The U.S. Department of Defense announced that its airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—on Saturday, June 21, “devastated” Iran’s nuclear program, marking a significant escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking at a Pentagon briefing on Sunday, June 22, described the operation as an “incredible and overwhelming success,” per The Guardian. The strikes, ordered by President Donald Trump, involved six B-2 bombers and 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles, per The New York Times.
The operation, dubbed “Midnight Hammer,” targeted uranium enrichment sites, with Natanz’s underground facility reduced to a “giant crater,” per Sky News. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi confirmed “very significant damage” at Isfahan and Natanz, though Fordow’s status remains unclear, per CNN. Iran’s atomic energy agency called the strikes a “savage assault,” denying radioactive leaks, per CNN. Hegseth emphasized that the strikes avoided civilian and military casualties, focusing solely on nuclear infrastructure, per NBC News.
The Pentagon’s claims face scrutiny, with Iran asserting it relocated enriched uranium prior to the strikes, per Sky News. Democrats, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, condemned the operation as unconstitutional, citing no congressional approval, per NBC News. The strikes, coordinated with Israel, have heightened global fears of retaliation, with Iran’s parliament voting to close the Strait of Hormuz, per Reuters. Hegseth warned Iran against further escalation, signaling readiness for additional strikes.