US Executes Precision Strike on Iranian Nuclear Sites Without Detection

In a meticulously planned operation, US forces launched a surprise attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. Early Sunday, American pilots dropped 30,000-pound bombs on two major underground uranium enrichment sites. This mission, known as Operation Midnight Hammer, aimed to significantly damage Iran's nuclear programme, which Israel considers a severe threat. Despite Iran's denial of any substantial damage, the Islamic Republic vowed to retaliate.

US military leaders described the operation as a "precision strike" that severely impacted Iran's nuclear capabilities. The mission involved B-2 stealth bombers departing from the US heartland, carrying 420,000 pounds of explosives. These bombers were supported by refuelling tankers and fighter jets, some of which also launched weapons. The operation was kept secret through deceptive tactics and decoys.

Deceptive Strategies Employed

Before the attack, elements of misdirection were already in place. Former President Trump publicly stated he would decide within two weeks about striking Iran, ostensibly to allow more time for negotiations. However, this announcement was part of the plan to conceal the impending attack. A group of B-2 bombers flew west as decoys, attracting attention while the actual strike force headed east.

Seven B-2 bombers carrying "bunker buster" bombs maintained minimal communication to avoid detection. Air Force Gen. Dan Caine explained that only a few planners and leaders knew about the mission in Washington and Florida. After 18 hours of flying with aerial refuelling, the bombers reached the Eastern Mediterranean undetected.

Execution of the Attack

An hour before entering Iran, a US submarine launched over two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles at key targets, including Isfahan's uranium preparation site. As the B-2s approached their targets, they encountered no Iranian fighter jets or surface-to-air missiles. At 6:40 pm in Washington and 2:10 am in Tehran, the first bomber dropped its GBU-57 bombs on Fordo's deeply buried uranium enrichment plant.

This marked the first combat use of these "bunker busters," designed to penetrate deep into the ground before detonating. The Fordo site bore most of the bombardment, but bombs also targeted Natanz's enrichment site. The attack lasted about half an hour, with cruise missiles being the final American weapons to hit their targets.

Operational Details

The mission involved 75 precision-guided weapons: 14 GBU-57 bombs from seven B-2 bombers and over two dozen Tomahawk missiles from a submarine. In total, 125 aircraft participated, including bombers, fighter jets, and refuelling planes. Despite concerns about radioactive contamination, both Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog reported no immediate signs around the sites.

Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth noted that "our B-2s went in and out and back without the world knowing at all." A female pilot was among those flying the B-2 bombers during this historic mission. Anonymity was maintained for this information as it wasn't authorised for public disclosure.

Historical Significance

Caine highlighted that using bunker-buster bombs made this mission historic. It was the largest operational strike involving B-2 bombers in US history and the second-longest B-2 mission ever flown. This record was only surpassed by missions following 9/11.

The operation relied heavily on secrecy and strategic deception to ensure success. Most US lawmakers were unaware of the plan until shortly before its execution. Some Republicans received brief notifications from the White House ahead of time.

The Pentagon released a graphic showing the flight path over Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. It remains unclear if these countries were informed about US overflights beforehand.

With inputs from PTI