Operation Midnight Hammer”: US-Iran Tensions Soar after Nuclear Site Strikes

New Delhi: The white House on Monday released a dramatic video showcasing B-2 bombers returning to Whiteman Air Force base in Missouri, following strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. US President Donald Trump’s office hailed the military as the "greatest force for freedom the world has known."

"B-2 bombers safely touch down at Whiteman AFB in Missouri after the Iran strike. God bless the United States Military - the greatest force for freedom the world has ever known," the statement read.

The Pentagon’s official rapid response team amplified the message by resharing the video, captioned: “Welcome home, boys.”

Renowned for breaching fortified air defenses, the B-2 bomber can deliver precision-targeted munitions against deeply buried sites like Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. According to the US Air Force, its stealth design allows it to evade radar systems and strike clandestinely.

With a staggering cost of around $2.1 billion each, B-2 bombers are among the most expensive military assets ever created. Their massive payload capacity of over 40,000 pounds (18,144 kg) allows them to carry a range of conventional and nuclear armaments while maintaining low radar visibility.

These bombers can be equipped with up to 16 B83 nuclear warheads. For the Iran operation, the US reportedly deployed the formidable GBU-57, a 30,000-pound (13,600kg) bunker buster capable of penetrating 200 feet underground before detonating. Reports indicate that six such bombs were dropped on the heavily fortified Fordow facility, a feat only possible with America’s elite weaponry.

Additionally, the offensive included 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles, alongside F-22 Raptors and F-35A Lightning II fighter jets, underscoring a multi-pronged and synchronized assault.

Launched under the codename “Operation Midnight Hammer”, this marked Washington’s first direct combat move in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. US officials declared Tehran’s nuclear program “obliterated,” igniting fears of a wider geopolitical escalation.

Following the strike, President Trump addressed Iran, warning the “bully of the Middle East” to opt for peace. “If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier,” he cautioned. “Most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes.”

Tehran’s immediate response remains uncertain, but Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed swift retaliation, threatening to target the US fleet in Bahrain and shut down the Strait of Hormuz.

"It is now our turn to act without delay," stated Hossein Shariatmadari, Khamenei’s envoy. The world watches anxiously as the Middle East teeters on the edge of an explosive flashpoint.