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The B-2 Iran Strike was significantly bigger than initially reported. USAF dropped fourteen 30,000lb MOP bombs on nuclear plant targets
The B-2s sent to Guam recently were just decoys, as others flew the opposite direction to Iran for the actual attack. The Pentagon has released details about the bomber-attacks on several Iranian underground nuclear facilities last night, named Operation Midnight Hammer.
All 19 of the U.S Air Force B-2 bombers are based at Whiteman AFB in Missouri. With the support of aerial refueling tankers, the B-2 can fly anywhere in the world, hit their target, and be back home in Missouri in time for dinner. This mission never landed outside of Missouri.
Pentagon details B-2 Iran Strike: Operation Midnight Hammer
Numerous B-2s took-off from the U.S. Friday night into early Saturday morning. Word spread quickly across media about the bombers arriving in Guam, but nobody knew 7 other B-2s (each with 2 crew members) were quietly en-route 18 hours to Iran.
Waiting for them across the ocean were more than 125 other aircraft, with more of our warfighters ready to support the attack. Fighter jets would lead and escort the strike, flying as a “protection package” to ensure safe passage of the B-2s with their 30,000 pound MOP bunker-busters. Numerous aerial refueling tankers were flying in support – from the U.S. to the Middle East and back.
As the planes approached Iranian airspace, a U.S. Navy submarine launched over 2 dozen tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles at key Iranian surface targets at Esfahan.
Entering Iran in the middle of the night (local time), fighter jets pushed out in front of the B-2s. Flying at high altitude and high speed, they swept the sky in front of the bombers for enemy fighters and surface-to-air missile threats.
Approaching the targets of Fordow and Natanz, the jets employed preemptive suppressing fire to any potential surface-to-air threats.
The jets and bombers encountered no resistance from Iran
Iran never fired a single shot as aircrews penetrated deep into the country, and not one Iranian fighter jet took off. Israel already softened and drastically degraded Iran’s Air Force and defenses over the past week, overwhelming them at a rapid pace. The work done by Israel alone in just over a week of conflict was impressive, and will be studied by military strategists for decades to come.
The lead B-2 bomber dropped its 2 MOPs at 2:10am local time, hitting the first of several “aim points” in Fordow. The other bombers proceeded to hit their targets with 2 MOPS each as well, dropping a total of 14 GBU-75 bombs and marking the first operational use of the bunker-busting weapons.
Iranian surface-to-air missile sites appeared unable to even see the jets and bombers. If they did, nothing was fired. The crews left Iran without resistance, with their mission accomplished.
Midnight Hammer was the B-2 Bomber’s largest attack ever
Midnight Hammer is the B-2 bomber’s largest attack in history. Their 36-hour round-trip flights are the second-longest flown missions by any B-2 (exceeded only by B-2 missions in the days following 9/11). Midnight Hammer utilized 36% of the B-2 fleet for this one mission. Pentagon officials say the mission delivered extreme destruction to all three target sites.
It’s too early to say whether Iran’s nuclear capability is now completely annihilated, says the Pentagon.
U.S. forces across the region are on high alert, ready for any retaliatory attacks from Iran in the coming hours, days and weeks ahead. Iran’s proxies across the Middle East have been silent ever since Israel started their attack on Iran, but that does not mean they are not planning something.
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