The operation ‘involved misdirection and the highest of operational security’, defence secretary says.
The Middle East has been plunged deeper into crisis after the United States launched strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, which US President Donald Trump said “completely and fully obliterated” three key sites, marking a major escalation in the Israel-Iran air war.
Detailing a complex strike mission dubbed “Midnight Hammer” that involved seven B-2 bombers and the deployment Massive Ordnance Penetrator “bunker buster” bombs for the first time in a conflict, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Sunday that the operation “was an incredible and overwhelming success”.
“It was powerful, and it was clear we devastated the Iranian nuclear program, but it’s worth noting the operation, did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people,” Hegseth said in a press briefing at the Pentagon, adding that the operation “involved misdirection and the highest of operational security”.
Direct US involvement in the conflict followed days of anticipation that Trump might approve military action targeting Iran’s nuclear programme - and after stating he would decide “within two weeks” whether to strike.
