Overview

• Operation Midnight Hammer began on June 21 when seven B-2 stealth bombers flew from Missouri on an 18-hour mission supported by aerial refueling tankers and fighter escorts.
• The bombers dropped 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators on Fordow while US submarines launched over 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles at Natanz and Isfahan.
• Pentagon officials say the operation achieved tactical surprise using decoy bomber flights toward Guam and electronic warfare to suppress Iranian air defenses.
• Maxar satellite imagery revealed multiple impact craters and extensive above-ground damage, though Iran claims it evacuated nuclear material in advance and the IAEA reported no off-site radiation increases.
• Iran has vowed retaliation and world leaders have issued urgent appeals for de-escalation to avert a wider regional conflict.