In a press conference today, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine provided details following the recent U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities carried out on Saturday.
The Secretary and Chairman outlined the intricacies of the classified mission, emphasizing its execution with an element of surprise that left âvery few people in Washington aware of the timing or nature of this plan.â B-2 Stealth Bomber pilots maintained âminimal communicationsâ during their extensive 18-hour flight into Iranian airspace.
This operation involved decoy planes diverting westward into the Pacific Ocean to confuse both the Iranian military and the public. Meanwhile, seven B-2s, loaded with Massive Ordnance Penetrator âBunker Bustersâ and piloted by two crew members each, âquietly proceeded to the east.â Reports from suggested that up to six B-2s had been detected heading towards Guam, leading many to believe they were poised for the attack.
âAs the Operation Midnight Hammer strike package entered Iranian airspace, the U.S. employed a variety of deception tactics,â Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine elaborated. âDecoys, alongside fourth and fifth-generation aircraft, sped ahead of the strike package at high altitudes, effectively neutralizing potential threats from enemy fighters and surface-to-air missile systems.â
At approximately 2:10 AM local time, the lead B-2 bomber released two GBU-57 Bunker Buster bombs on the initial target at Fordow, according to Caine.
He noted that the mission was executed under a veil of secrecy, with U.S. planes managing to be “in and out without the world knowing at all.” Furthermore, Caine stated they are “currently unaware of any shots fired at the U.S. strike package on the way in or out.”
âInitial assessments indicate that all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction,â Caine reported.
Hegseth: Following President Trump’s directives, U.S. Central Command executed a precision strike under the cover of night against three Iranian nuclear facilitiesâFordow, Natanz, and Esfahanâaimed at significantly impairing Iran’s nuclear capabilities. As the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs will detail, this operation was nothing short of an overwhelming success. The order from our Commander-in-Chief was focused, powerful, and unequivocal. We have dealt a crushing blow to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. President Trump has consistently asserted for over a decade that Iran cannot acquire a nuclear weapon, period. Thanks to his decisive leadership and commitment to âpeace through strength,â Iranâs nuclear aspirations have been effectively dismantled. Previous administrations may have aspired to such a decisive action, but only President Trump has achieved this.
The operation exemplified boldness and brilliance, reestablishing America’s deterrent posture on the global stage. When President Trump speaks, the world must pay attention, and our military can back it upâindeed, we possess the most formidable military in history. No other nation could have executed this operation as we did. Just as Soleimani learned during the first term, Iran has realized that when our President talks about seeking peace for a limited timeframe, he means it. If that timeline lapses, their nuclear program will not survive. This is not a repeat of the past. President Trump is resolute: no nuclear weapons. He offers a path to peace, and Iran would be wise to follow it. In a statement last night, he warned, âAny retaliation by Iran against the United States will be met with force far greater than what was witnessed tonight,â signed by Donald J. Trump, President of the United States. Iran should heed these words.
I wish to acknowledge the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Joint Staff, and General Eric Carillo at CENTCOM, who executed this operation with remarkable precision. This was a joint effort across the Pentagon. I also want to commend the pilots of those bombers, fighters, and refueling aircraft, our sailors on destroyers, submarines, and carriers, as well as our soldiers involved in air and base defenseâevery American who played a role in this operation performed flawlessly. I also extend gratitude to our allies in Israel. This mission was months in the making, requiring meticulous positioning and preparation to ensure readiness when the President called for action. It involved misdirection and the highest operational security. Our B-2s executed a historic mission, marking the longest B-2 Spirit Bomber mission since 2001 and the first operational deployment of the Massive Ordnance Penetrator. This operation demonstrated the strength of our alliances and the capabilities of our joint forces. As President Trump has stated, the United States does not seek war, but let there be no ambiguity: we will act decisively when our interests are threatened. Iran should regard the President’s words as serious and meant to be followed. Congratulations to our Commander-in-Chief. It was a privilege to witness his leadership during this successful operation. God bless our troops, God bless America, and we give glory to God for His providence, while continuing to seek His protection. Now, I turn it over to the Chairman for further details.
Caine: On the President’s orders, U.S. Central Command, under General Eric Carillo, executed Operation Midnight Hammerâa calculated and precise strike against three Iranian nuclear facilities. This mission was intricate and high-risk, executed with extraordinary skill and discipline by our joint forces. I extend my gratitude to every service member, planner, and operator who made this mission possible. Their actions reflect the highest standards of the U.S. Armed Forces. The operation aimed to severely degrade Iran’s nuclear weapons infrastructure and was planned across multiple domains with exceptional coordination, showcasing our capacity to project power globally, rapidly, and precisely at our discretion. This was a highly classified mission, with only a select few in Washington privy to its specifics. I will now refer you to the graphic as I outline some operational details.
At midnight Friday into Saturday, a substantial B-2 strike package, consisting of bombers, launched from within the continental United States. In a strategy to maintain tactical surprise, part of the package veered west into the Pacific as a decoyâan effort known only to a limited circle of planners and key leaders in Washington and Tampa. The primary strike package, consisting of seven B-2 Spirit Bombers, each manned by two crew members, moved quietly eastward with minimal communications. Throughout the 18-hour journey, the aircraft underwent multiple in-flight refuelings. Upon reaching land, the B-2s coordinated with escort and support aircraft in a complex maneuver requiring precise timing across various platforms, all achieved with minimal communications. This level of integration is a testament to what our Joint Force excels at better than anyone else in the world. At around 5 PM Eastern Standard Time, just before the strike package entered Iran, a U.S. submarine in the Central Command Area launched over two dozen Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles targeting key surface infrastructure at Esfahan, while the Operation Midnight Hammer strike package entered Iranian airspace. The U.S. employed various deceptive tactics, including decoys, as advanced aircraft sped ahead of the strike package at high speed, neutralizing potential threats from enemy fighters and surface-to-air missile systems. Currently, we are not aware of any shots fired at the U.S. strike package during its approach.
At approximately 6:40 PM Eastern Standard Time, or 2:10 AM local time in Iran, the lead B-2 bomber released two GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator weapons on the first of several aim points at Fordow. As the President stated, the remaining bombers subsequently struck their targets, with a total of 14 MOPs deployed against two nuclear facilities. All three Iranian infrastructure targets were hit between 6:40 PM and 7:05 PM Eastern time, with the Tomahawk missiles being the final strikes at Esfahan to ensure we maintained the element of surprise throughout the operation.
After releasing their payloads, the Midnight Hammer strike package exited Iranian airspace and began its return journey. We are unaware of any shots fired at the package during the exit. Iranian fighters did not engage, nor did it appear that their surface-to-air missile systems detected our presence. Throughout the mission, we retained the element of surprise. In total, U.S. forces employed approximately 75 precision-guided weapons during this operation, including, as the President noted, 14 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators, marking the first operational use of this weapon. While final battle damage assessments will take time, initial evaluations indicate that all three sites suffered extreme destruction. Over 125 U.S. aircraft participated in this mission, including B-2 stealth bombers, numerous fourth and fifth-generation fighters, a multitude of air refueling tankers, a guided missile submarine, and a complete array of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft, along with hundreds of maintenance and operational professionals.
As the Secretary mentioned, this was the largest operational strike by B-2 bombers in U.S. history and the second-longest B-2 mission ever conducted, surpassed only by missions in the wake of 9/11. Prior to the strike, General Carillo heightened force protection measures across the region, particularly in Iraq, Syria, and the Gulf, ensuring our forces remain on high alert and fully prepared to respond to any potential Iranian retaliation or proxy attacks, which would be an unwise decision. Our commitment to self-defense remains resolute. The safety of our service members and civilians is our utmost priority. This mission showcases the unparalleled reach, coordination, and capability of the U.S. military. In just weeks, this operation transitioned from strategic planning to global execution, underscoring the unmatched capabilities and global reach of the United States Armed Forces. As the President emphasized last night, no other military in the world could have achieved this. I join both the President and the Secretary in expressing immense pride in the aircrews, naval forces, cyber operators, planners, support teams, and commanders who made this operation successful. It is their skill, discipline, and teamwork that made this mission possible. I am particularly proud of our commitment to operational security, a concern shared by the President, the Secretary, General Carillo, and myself. As we stand here today, many assets remain airborne, and we have hundreds deployed. I urge everyone to keep our warfighters on their way home and our deployed service members in our thoughts. Our joint force stands ready to defend the United States, our troops, and our interests in the region.
