ATHENS, Greece (AP) — In a significant military escalation, the United States has conducted airstrikes on three key Iranian nuclear sites, launching what it referred to as “Operation Midnight Hammer.” President Donald Trump claimed that the facilities were “completely and fully obliterated,” warning of further actions should Iran respond to the strikes.
This latest development follows a week of intensified hostilities between Israel and Iran, initiated by a series of Israeli attacks targeting Iranian military and nuclear objectives. The Israeli offensive began on June 13, resulting in the deaths of several high-ranking military officials and nuclear scientists in Iran. In retaliation, Iran unleashed a wave of missile and drone assaults on Israel, penetrating its advanced air defense systems and resulting in casualties on both sides, with hundreds killed and thousands injured.
Iran maintains that its nuclear program is strictly for peaceful purposes; however, Israel perceives it as a grave existential threat. Israeli officials argue that a military campaign is essential to thwart Iran’s potential development of nuclear weapons. Despite assessments from U.S. intelligence agencies suggesting that Tehran is not currently pursuing a nuclear bomb, arguments from Trump and Israeli leadership warn that Iran could quickly assemble one.
Tensions in the region have escalated over the past two years, particularly as Israel continues its military strategy against Hamas in Gaza following the militant group’s surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
In a televised address to the nation, President Trump confirmed that precision strikes targeted Iran’s Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz nuclear sites. He celebrated the operation as a “spectacular military success” and insisted that these actions would compel Iran to seek peace.
U.S. military officials, including Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, indicated that while a full assessment of the operational damage will take some time, initial estimates show substantial damage to all three facilities. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the goal of the strike was not to initiate regime change within Iran.
Despite the confirmed strikes, Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization stated that its nuclear ambitions would not be deterred. Both Iran and the U.N. nuclear watchdog affirmed that there was no immediate evidence of radioactive contamination following the attacks. Notably, the nuclear facility at Fordo, which is located deep underground, was targeted with specialized bunker-buster munitions unique to the United States, designed to breach substantial subterranean barriers.
In the aftermath, Iran responded with a barrage of missile strikes aimed at Israel, with reports indicating at least 80 individuals were injured, most of whom sustained minor injuries. Accessing the escalating rhetoric, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared that the time for diplomatic solutions was over, advocating Iran’s right to defend itself against what he labeled as an aggressive act by Washington.
Araghchi’s remarks underscored the rising tensions, as he condemned the U.S. involvement as crossing a dangerous threshold by attacking critical nuclear infrastructure.
It remains uncertain how Iran will retaliate in the long term, but concerns loom over the potential for attacks on U.S. military installations throughout the Middle East or even disruptions in global oil supply routes.
The international community reacted swiftly to these developments. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed grave concerns over the U.S. actions, denouncing them as a “dangerous escalation” and stressing the urgent need for diplomacy to avert a broader conflict that could have severe ramifications for civilians in the region and worldwide.
European Union foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, also emphasized the necessity for restraint in the face of these events, urging all parties to step back and return to negotiation. A meeting of the EU’s foreign ministers is set to take place in Brussels, with the escalating Israel-Iran conflict high on the agenda.
In Yemen, Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels, who had threatened operations against U.S. maritime assets in the Red Sea in response to U.S. support for Israel, called for a unified stance among Muslim nations against what they termed “Zionist-American arrogance.”
Ahead of the conflict, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had cautioned the U.S. that any strikes against Iran would lead to irreparable consequences. The Israeli military has prepared for what may become a prolonged war, while Iranian officials continue to warn of the severe dangers associated with American military engagement in the region.
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