Operation Midnight Hammer: U.S. Strategic Strike on Iranian Nuclear Facilities
This marked the largest-ever deployment of B-2 Spirit stealth bombers and the first combat use of the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), a 15-ton bunker-buster bomb
MIDDLE EAST — On June 21, 2025, the United States executed a precision military operation, dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer, targeting three Iranian nuclear facilities, including the heavily fortified Fordow complex.
This marked the largest-ever deployment of B-2 Spirit stealth bombers and the first combat use of the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), a 15-ton bunker-buster bomb designed to destroy deeply buried targets.
The operation, characterized by meticulous planning and tactical surprise, aimed to degrade Iran’s nuclear weapons infrastructure, reflecting a significant escalation in U.S.-Iran tensions amid ongoing regional instability. The strike’s stated success, with no immediate Iranian response, underscores U.S. military precision, though the potential for retaliation remains a critical concern.
The operation commenced on Saturday with seven B-2 bombers, each crewed by two personnel, launching from the continental United States. A decoy package (B-52 bombers) diverted to the Pacific to mislead Iranian defenses, while the main strike group proceeded east with minimal communication, ensuring undetected entry into Iranian airspace.
Over 25 minutes, 14 GBU-57 MOPs were deployed, with two initial munitions striking Fordow, followed by additional bombs targeting two other nuclear sites. A barrage of Tomahawk cruise missiles from a U.S. submarine concluded the operation, maintaining the element of surprise. U.S. forces in Iraq, Syria, and the Gulf were placed on high alert for potential Iranian or proxy retaliation.
