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.

Initial Battle Damage, Risk Assessments, Full Report: