In a significant escalation of military action in the Middle East, the U.S. military, in partnership with Israel, has launched strikes against Iran, targeting key nuclear facilities in an effort to thwart Tehran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons.
The announcement was made via social media by President Donald Trump, who declared the successful completion of attacks on three critical nuclear sites, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.
“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” Trump stated on Truth Social.
The President emphasized that all aircraft involved in the operation are now out of Iranian airspace and that they dropped a full payload of bombs on the Fordow facility, a heavily fortified site located approximately 100 miles south of Tehran.
“Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!” Trump added, signaling a shift in rhetoric after the military action.
In a subsequent address to the nation from the White House, accompanied by key officials including Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, President Trump reaffirmed the mission’s objectives.
“Our objective was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat,” he stated, declaring the strikes a “spectacular military success.”
Trump acknowledged the role of the U.S. military in executing the operation but noted his hope that further action would not be necessary.
However, he warned that Iran’s actions cannot continue unchanged, stating, “If peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill.”
During a press conference at the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized the decisive nature of the U.S. action, claiming that Iran’s nuclear ambitions had been effectively obliterated.
“The order we received from our commander in chief was focused, it was powerful, and it was clear,” Hegseth asserted, reinforcing the narrative of military success.
The attack marks a critical turning point, being the first direct military involvement by the U.S. in the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel.
The strikes on the Fordow facility were particularly notable due to its depth and fortifications. Only the U.S. possesses the specialized weapons necessary to penetrate such a heavily protected site, specifically the GBU-57 MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator), which requires a B-2 stealth bomber for deployment.
Reports from U.S. officials suggest that senior Democratic leaders were informed of the military action shortly before Trump’s social media announcement.
This military action has drawn criticism from several prominent Democrats. Rep. Jim Himes, the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, expressed strong disapproval, stating, “Donald Trump’s decision to launch direct military action against Iran without Congressional approval is a clear violation of the Constitution, which grants the power to declare war explicitly to Congress.”
He further questioned the effectiveness of the operation, saying, “It is impossible to know at this stage whether this operation accomplished its objectives.”
The U.S. attack represents a stark deviation from Trump’s previous stance of avoiding further entanglement in Middle Eastern conflicts.
Despite earlier commitments to negotiate a new nuclear deal with Iran, Trump has increasingly vocalized his concerns about Iran’s nuclear capabilities in light of recent developments, especially after initial airstrikes by Israel on Iranian positions.
Trump’s earlier statements called for Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” and claimed that the U.S. had total aerial control of the region.
Additionally, he warned Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of U.S. intelligence capabilities, suggesting that Khamenei was a potential target, yet he refrained from stating any imminent plans for action against him.
The escalating tensions and military actions have sparked concern from Iranian leadership, with Khamenei labeling the idea of U.S. military involvement as detrimental.
In a post on social media, Khamenei warned, “The harm the US will suffer will definitely be irreparable if they enter this conflict militarily.”
Trump has previously ruled out deploying U.S. ground forces in Iran, yet this latest attack signals a new phase filled with uncertainty as conflict escalates.
Israel views Iran as an existential threat and has argued that its military actions are necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Although Israel has stated that its operations target military and nuclear infrastructure, Iran has claimed that these strikes have resulted in civilian casualties, with more than 200 reported deaths.
In response to the initial Israeli strikes, Iran has launched missile and drone attacks against Israel.
While the Israeli military claims to have intercepted many of these projectiles, they acknowledge that not all have been neutralized.
The Israeli leadership indicates that fatalities have also occurred among their own forces as a result of these exchanges.
U.S. intelligence has historically assessed that Iran suspended its nuclear weapons program in 2003, following the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
However, Trump’s comments following the G7 summit indicate a divergence in perspective, as he dismissed the intelligence community’s views, insisting that Iran was close to developing a nuclear weapon.
This military strike, therefore, is not just a significant military action but also reflects deepening divisions in U.S. political discourse regarding foreign policy and national security.
image source from：npr
