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The Pentagon on Sunday divided details about Operation Midnight HammerThe massive, complicated mission, which hit three important Iranian nuclear facilities on Saturday and described it as the “largest B-2 operational strike in US history”.
Minister of Defense Pete Hegseth told reporters in the Pentagon that “the scope of this is deliberately limited” in his first formal remarks after the strikes, although it was added that the capabilities of the American military are “almost unlimited”.
General Dan Caine, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, describes the timeline of the operation and the deception tactic, which was used in the nuclear institutions of Ford, Natanz and Isfahan in the Iranian Ford, the Iranian facilities.
The flight “Ruse” – Decoy drives at 12:01 p.m. EST on Saturday
The Pentagon shared this graphic with the timeline of the Us Military Operation. (Pentagon)
The operation began when B-2-stealth bombers were started Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri at 12:01 p.m. Saturday morning.
Some of the bombers flew to the west as bait and the Pacific. Caine called it a “deception that is only known to an extremely small number of planners and most important managers”.
Hegseth, Military Brass describes “incredible and overwhelming success” by US strikes about Iran
Main strike a 18-hour flight
The main strike of seven B-2-Spirit bombers, each with two crew members, flew to the east with minimal communication when she undertook the 18-hour flight to the target area, said Caine.
The aircraft in the group was filled up several times during the flight. At Overland, the strike group connected with escort and support aircraft from Central Command.
In this picture of the US Air Force, a B-2 spirit returns to Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., on May 9, 2025. Seven B-2 aircraft were used in Operation Midnight Hammer, said Caine on Sunday. (Senior Airman Devan Halstead/Us Air Force about AP)
Caine described the link-up as “a complex, densely time-controlled maneuver, which requires precise synchronization over several platforms in a narrow airspace, all of which are carried out with minimal communication”.
Close the way – 5 p.m. EST, Saturday
Around 5 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. in Iran), a US -U boat started more than two dozen Tomahawk land attacks against the most important goals of the surface infrastructure than the main striking force occurred Iranian airspace.
According to Caine, further deception tactics were used and supported aircraft at great altitude and speed to sweep in front of the main strike group for enemy fighters and surface-air rocket threats.
This graphic shows the US marine assets in the Middle East. (Fox News)
When the B-2 main group of Ford and Natanz approached, Support Aircraft’s high-speed guns used to ensure their secure passage.
“We are currently not aware that shots on the US strike package have been entered on the way,” Caine told reporters.
The strikes – 6.40 p.m. EST, Saturday
The Fordow Nuclear Facility was hit at 6.40 p.m. EST or around 2:10 a.m. in Iran.
The United States started three important core locations in Iran on Saturday evening. (Fox News)
The lead B-2 had two GBU 57 Massive Ordnance Pensiderator (MOP) MOP weapons, which are generally referred to as bunkerbusters, in the first of several target points from Fordow.
The remaining bombers also met their goals, a total of 14 pugs fell on Fordow and Natanz, said Caine.
This satellite image of Planet Labs PBC shows the Iranian underground core enrichment location in Fordo after a US air attack aimed at the facility on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (Planet Labs PBC about AP)
The Tomahawk rockets launched by US -U boats were the last that agreed and achieved their goals in Isfahan.
The return trip – Saturday to Sunday
After the plane released its weapons on a massive strike, it left Iranian airspace to return home to the Whiteman Air Force Base. Caine said the US military was not immediately aware that shots on the way from the Iranian airspace were fired on the strike group.
“The Iranian fighters have not flew, and it seems that the Iranian surface-air rocket systems have not seen us throughout the mission,” said Caine. “We kept the surprise element.”
The Operation Midnight Hammer used more than 125 planes in the mission, including seven B-2-stealth bombers, fourth and fifth generation fighters, dozens of tank shoes with air tank, a submarine for rockets and “a complete arrangement” of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance plane, said Caine.
General Dan Caine, chairman of the joint chiefs, announced the Midnight Timeline operation during a press conference in the Pentagon in Washington on Sunday, June 22, 2025, after the US military had hit three locations in Iran. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The US armed forces started approximately 75 precision-led ammunition, including 14 GBU 57 Massive Ordnance Peneters, each weighing £ 30,000. The operation marked the first operational use of this weapon, said Caine.
A process of history
Caine called the operation the “largest B-2 operational strike in US history” and “no other military in the world could have done so”.
“This mission shows the unsurpassed range, coordination and ability of the US military in just a few weeks,” said Caine. “This went from strategic planning to global execution.”
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Caine also said that this was the second longest B-2 mission that was ever flown, which was only exceeded by missions that were flown in the days after September 11th.
