Al Root

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Dan Caine in a news conference Sunday reviewing operational details of Saturday's "Operation Midnight Hammer," called the well-concealed strikes against nuclear development facilities in Iran an "incredible and overwhelming success."

Hegseth added that Iranian troops weren't targeted in the strikes.

The U.S. entered the battle after Israel attacked Iran on June 13, targeting its nuclear facilities in an attempt to keep the country from developing atomic weapons. Iran responded by launching missiles into Israel. Fighting continued throughout the week, with Israel targeting communications, energy, and defense infrastructure.

Regarding America's involvement, "this mission is not, was not, about regime change," said the defense secretary, adding it was focused on eliminating Iran's nuclear development capabilities.

Three of Iran's sites -- Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan -- suffered severe damage, Caine said. Hegseth said that that while damage assessment was ongoing, he believed Frodo, the site buried under a mountain, was destroyed.

The strikes involved more than 125 U.S. aircraft, including fourth and fifth-generation fighter jets, B-2 stealth bombers, refueling tankers, and reconnaissance aircraft. A submarine launched more than two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles at Isfahan.

Bombers dropped 14 bunker-busting GBU-57 massive ordnance penetrators, or MOPs. It was the first operational use of the 30,000-pound weapon.

B-2s were launched from the continental U.S. Seven, flying east, were used in the attack, refueled multiple times on the way. "We are currently unaware of any shots fired" at U.S. strike fighters on the way into or out of Iran, added Caine.

Many of the MOPs likely were used against Fordo, which is located deep underground, south of Tehran, near the city of Qom.

Estimates put the facility 200 to 300 feet beneath the mountain, with the mountain offering an additional layer of protection, making it difficult to attack.

"I am extremely proud" of how the military performed, added Hegseth.

"You always will have the issue that Iran can rebuild, rehire, [and] restart," said Vertical Research Partners analyst Rob Stallard. Iran will "have to want to stop as South Africa did." South Africa signed a non-nuclear treaty in 1989.

Now, the world will wait to see how Iran responds.

Write to Al Root at allen.root@dowjones.com

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June 22, 2025 09:25 ET (13:25 GMT)

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