Did America Really Destroy Iranian Nuclear Facilities?
On June 22, 2025, the United States launched Operation “Midnight Hammer”, a joint attack by the USAF and US Navy, targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, namely Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. At least 14 GBU-57A/B MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator) bombs were dropped, supposedly “destroying” all three of them. These weapons can only be carried by Northrop Grumman B-2 “Spirit” stealth strategic bombers. For its part, the US Navy launched at least 30 “Tomahawk” cruise missiles. Although the exact vessel that fired them is yet to be revealed, the USS “Georgia”, an Ohio-class SSGN (nuclear-powered guided missile submarine) has been deployed in the Indian Ocean since last September. Obviously, more (or other) vessels could’ve been involved, as nuclear-powered submarines can spend months without surfacing.
According to various sources, as well as the details presented by the Pentagon itself, seven B-2 bombers of the 509th Bomb Wing flew directly from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. Six of those dropped 12 MOPs on the Fordow facility, while the seventh dropped two on Natanz. The aforementioned 30 “Tomahawk” cruise missiles hit Natanz and Isfahan. Both Natanz and Fordow were reportedly hit at approximately 2:30 AM Iran Standard Time. This was officially the first time that the MOP “bunker buster” bombs were used in combat. These weapons weigh around 14 metric tons, meaning they can only be carried by B-2 bombers, which flew continuously for roughly 37 hours between their takeoff and the attack. The B-2s also had to be refueled multiple times, which is why a fleet of aerial tankers was also involved.
The US claims that the bombers were preceded by unnamed “fourth and fifth generation American fighter aircraft to preempt any surface-to-air defensive fire”. The Pentagon insists that Iranian air defenses did not engage USAF jets, supposedly “due to damage caused by previous Israeli attacks”. The B-2s reportedly flew east, over the Atlantic Ocean, attacking Iran from the west, while an unspecified number of other B-2s flew west, across the Pacific, as a diversion from the main strike force. In total, at least 125 aircraft were involved in the operation, including logistics and ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) assets. The sheer complexity of an operation of this magnitude would require months (if not years) of planning, meaning that “peace talks” with Iran were just another ruse.
Another important aspect is the costs, certainly measured in billions. Nam
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