Operation Midnight Hammer: U.S. B-2 Bombers Strike Iranian Nuclear Sites in Historic Mission

In a display of military precision that could make a Swiss watch jealous, the Pentagon unveiled details of Operation Midnight Hammer, a audacious strike on three Iranian nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—executed on Saturday. Dubbed the 'largest B-2 operational strike in U.S. history,' this mission was a masterclass in stealth, strategy, and sheer American firepower.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the operation as 'intentionally limited' in scope but flexed the U.S. military’s 'near unlimited' capabilities. Speaking at the Pentagon, he hinted at the operation’s deeper message: America’s reach is long, and its resolve is unyielding.

Leading the charge was General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who laid out the mission’s intricate timeline. Seven B-2 Spirit bombers took off from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, embarking on an 18-hour journey cloaked in secrecy. A clever decoy group flew west into the Pacific, throwing off potential watchers, while the main strike force slipped eastward with minimal radio chatter.

The operation’s complexity was staggering. In-flight refueling kept the bombers airborne, and a tightly choreographed rendezvous with escort aircraft from Central Command ensured seamless execution. As the B-2s entered Iranian airspace, a U.S. submarine unleashed over two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles, targeting surface infrastructure at Isfahan. Meanwhile, support aircraft swept ahead, neutralizing threats with high-speed suppression weapons.

At 6:40 p.m. EST, the first GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator—a 30,000-pound bunker-buster—slammed into Fordow. A total of 14 MOPs rained down on Fordow and Natanz, marking their first-ever operational use. Iran’s defenses? Silent. 'Their fighters didn’t fly, and their missiles didn’t see us,' Caine quipped, crediting the element of surprise.

With over 125 aircraft, including fighters, tankers, and reconnaissance planes, and 75 precision-guided munitions, this operation was a logistical symphony orchestrated in just weeks. Caine called it a testament to U.S. military might, unmatched by any other nation. The B-2s, after delivering their payload, returned home unscathed, logging the second-longest mission in their history.

Operation Midnight Hammer wasn’t just a strike—it was a statement. The U.S. can plan globally, execute flawlessly, and leave adversaries wondering what hit them.