Key Point Summary – Trump’s ‘Midnight Hammer’ Hits Iran
- Trump shatters deadline, launches surprise strike
- U.S. bombs three major Iranian nuclear sites
- Officials confirm Fordow “severely damaged”
- Iran retaliates with missile strike on Israel
- 16 injured, including civilians, in Israel
- B-2 fleet drops 75 precision weapons
- Largest B-2 mission in military history
Trump Breaks Silence, Breaks Iran
FIND THE LATEST AT THE END OF THIS OVERVIEW!
In a stunning escalation, President Donald Trump launched Operation Midnight Hammer late Saturday night, sending a massive fleet of American B-2 bombers to hammer Iran’s nuclear facilities under the cover of darkness.
What followed was the most ambitious B-2 operation in U.S. military history.
The strike came days ahead of Trump’s publicly declared “two-week decision window,” catching Tehran—and the world—completely off guard.
‘Brilliant, Bold, and Devastating’
At a tense Sunday morning press conference, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hailed the strike as a “brilliant, bold” operation that left Iran’s nuclear program in shambles.
“This mission was a complete and overwhelming success,” Hegseth said. “American deterrence is back.”
He warned Iran that unless it comes to the negotiating table, consequences would only grow worse.
Officials confirmed that the Fordow enrichment facility—buried beneath layers of rock and concrete—was hit hard. Though not fully destroyed, it was “severely damaged,” according to military sources.
Fordow, Natanz, Esfahan Obliterated
Midnight Hammer specifically targeted three of Iran’s most crucial nuclear sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.
The assault began at 2:10 a.m. Iranian time. Within minutes, fireballs lit the skies over central Iran.
The strikes involved 135 aircraft in total, including 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators. Each bomb weighs 30,000 pounds and costs nearly $500 million.
It was the most expensive payload dropped in a single night in U.S. history.
“These were the most advanced bunker-busting bombs ever used in active combat,” said General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Iran Strikes Israel in Retaliation
Iran wasted no time responding.
Just hours after the U.S. strikes, at around 6:30 a.m. GMT, sirens wailed across Israeli cities. Missiles landed in Tel Aviv and Haifa, injuring at least 16 people.
Among the wounded: a young man with shrapnel wounds to his chest and arms. Emergency services worked around the clock amid fears of a larger regional war.
Iran’s Foreign Minister blasted Trump as a “lawless bully” and said the U.S. had “betrayed diplomacy” by striking without warning.
He warned that the world now faces “an unprecedented level of danger.”
Massive Military Coordination
According to military briefings, the operation involved coordination from five U.S. bases and was supported by dozens of refueling aircraft and surveillance drones.
B-2 bombers flew in tight formation from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, stealthily crossing global airspace.
The warplanes dropped a total of 75 precision-guided weapons. Targets were hit within seconds of each other to maximize shock and minimize Iran’s ability to respond.
“This was surgical, smart, and effective,” Hegseth said.
‘No Troops, No Civilians Targeted’
Trump’s war planners made one thing clear: this was not an attack on the Iranian people.
“This operation did not target Iranian troops or civilians,” said Hegseth. “It was aimed squarely at dismantling a nuclear threat.”
Still, officials admitted the Fordow site may require follow-up strikes if Iran attempts a rapid rebuild.
Experts say it could take Iran years to restore full nuclear capabilities—if it’s even possible under new U.S. surveillance measures.
A Historic First
No American president had ever attempted such a massive B-2 deployment. Trump just rewrote the military rulebook—and history.
The mission broke every record in strategic airpower coordination, cost, and impact on a foreign nuclear program.
And while Trump’s critics questioned the timing and long-term strategy, even his enemies admitted: the strike was devastatingly effective.
Backlash and Applause
In Washington, reactions split along party lines.
Republicans rallied behind Trump’s aggressive stance. “It’s about time we took Iran seriously,” said Senator JD Vance.
Democrats condemned the lack of congressional authorization and warned of further escalation.
In Israel, Prime Minister Netanyahu offered full support and placed Israeli defense forces on high alert. Other U.S. allies, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, quietly expressed approval.
European leaders, however, called for restraint and peace talks. China and Russia issued formal condemnations.
++ LIVE ++ LIVE ++
7:53 pm: Trump calls for ‘regime change’
President Donald Trump lit the fuse on another explosive moment in Middle East history Sunday, openly calling for a regime change in Iran. The demand came during urgent talks with newly elected UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Just hours after American stealth bombers pounded three Iranian enrichment sites, Trump doubled down with a bold message posted to Truth Social.
“This regime can’t MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN,” he wrote. “Why wouldn’t there be a regime change?”
His words sparked panic in diplomatic circles and fury in Tehran.
3:14 pm: Iran Poised to Shut Down Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s parliament has approved a move to shut down the Strait of Hormuz—a decision that, if finalized, could spark global chaos.
Although the resolution is not yet legally binding, the symbolic vote signals serious intent. Final approval now rests with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, according to a report from Press TV on Sunday.
Still, the threat is real. Revolutionary Guards Commander and lawmaker Esmail Kowsari warned the Young Journalist Club that closing the waterway is “on the agenda” and “will be done whenever necessary.”
Kowsari reiterated over the weekend that the option remains firmly on the table. “The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is under consideration,” he said, adding that Iran “will make the best decision with determination.”
The strait is no ordinary sea route. It’s the world’s most vital oil corridor, with roughly 20 percent of all global oil supplies and an equal share of liquefied natural gas (LNG) flowing through it. Any disruption would send energy markets into disarray.
Nicknamed the planet’s most important energy chokepoint, the Strait of Hormuz lies just off Iran’s southern coast and connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea. Its narrow passage is vital to energy exports from Gulf states like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE.
But Iran insists the threat goes far beyond economics. Speaking to Iranian media, Kowsari claimed Tehran won’t limit itself when it comes to striking back at Israel. “Our hands are wide open when it comes to punishing the enemy,” he said. “The military response was only part of our overall response.”
Experts warn the fallout from closing the strait could be immediate and severe. Trade analyst Gerrit Heinemann told Bild that if Iran pulls the trigger, the global economic impact would be “catastrophic.”
The risk of conflict in the Gulf region has surged in recent weeks, following U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and Tehran’s growing alignment with anti-Western protests at home.
With tensions boiling and energy routes hanging in the balance, the world now waits to see whether Iran’s next move will push the globe toward economic ruin—or outright war.
2:19 pm: Iran President joins ‘Death to America’ demonstration
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stood alongside thousands of demonstrators in central Tehran on Sunday, as public outrage erupted across the capital following U.S. military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities ordered by President Donald Trump.
Massive crowds flooded the streets, waving flags and shouting fiery slogans in response to the nighttime bombing campaign. Video from the scene captured voices echoing “death to America” and “down with Israel,” with Pezeshkian seen at the front of the protest, surrounded by top officials and clerics.
The show of solidarity from Iran’s newly elected leader marked a defiant response to the escalation.
11:45 am EDT: “Heightened threat environment”
The National Terrorism Advisory System issued a stark warning of a “heightened threat environment in the United States” in the wake of President Trump’s military strikes on Iran.
CBS News first reported the alert, which raised concerns that the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran could inspire violent extremists or individuals motivated by hate to launch domestic attacks.
According to the bulletin, U.S. officials believe there is an increased risk that “the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict could motivate violent extremists and hate crime perpetrators seeking to attack targets inside the United States.”
The advisory also cautioned that pro-Iranian hacktivist groups may attempt low-level cyber assaults on U.S. digital infrastructure, targeting vulnerable networks as a form of retaliation.
Since 2020, law enforcement agencies have “disrupted multiple potentially lethal Iranian-backed plots” on American soil, the bulletin stated, underscoring the continued presence of foreign-linked threats operating within U.S. borders.
9:22 am EDT: Major Blow to nuke program
The U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities dealt a major blow to the country’s nuclear program, inflicting significant damage, though one of the most fortified sites remained partially intact.
According to sources cited by the New York Times, the B-2 stealth bombers targeted Iran’s Fordow uranium enrichment complex—an underground facility reinforced to withstand heavy attack. While the site was hit hard, it was not completely destroyed.
This revelation emerged even as top U.S. officials publicly hailed the mission as a resounding success.
