US attacks Iran, destroys 3 nuclear sites: Here is everything you need to know about the military operation

On 21st June (local time), President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced that the US had attacked three nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan. In a post on social media platform Truth Social, Trump pointed out that all fighter jets returned safely and he congratulated the US armed forces for the attack.

He added, “There is not another military in the world that could have done this. Now is the time for peace.” With the attack on Iran’s nuclear sites, the US has officially entered the war with Iran.

In a follow-up post, Trump warned Iran not to retaliate against the US. He said, “Any retaliation by Iran against the United States of America will be met with force far greater than what was witnessed tonight.” The development came amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.

Fordow and Natanz were Iran’s two primary uranium enrichment facilities. Israel had already hit Natanz with smaller weapons earlier this week. Esfahan is believed to be the site of Iran’s near-weapons-grade enriched uranium stockpile. Earlier on the night of 20th June (local time), several US B-2 stealth bombers took off from the Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri and were seen heading west, as per the flight tracking data. However, it is unclear if B-2 bombers were part of the attack on the nuclear sites in Iran.

As of Saturday, the aircraft were tracked flying over the Pacific Ocean and appeared to be heading towards Guam. According to media reports, B-2 bombers are uniquely equipped to carry the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, which is a 30,000-pound “bunker buster” bomb. It is believed that it is the only weapon capable of targeting the underground Fordow nuclear site in Iran. Each B-2 can carry two of these powerful bombs.

According to CNN, Trump had spent considerable time in the White House Situation Room reviewing military plans and asking advisers about potential outcomes before the attack. He had stated that a decision on military action could come sooner than the two-week window he previously mentioned.

It was the first time since Iran’s 1979 revolution that the US Air Force had launched attacks on key sites within the country. This attack is being considered an act of war. With this attack, Trump has directly involved the US military in an open conflict with Iran, which the previous US Presidents had reportedly deliberately avoided.

The weapons used by the US

According to the statement issued by Trump, the US military targeted three sites in Iran: Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan. Fordow is located in a mountainside south of Tehran. It is believed to be deeper underground than the Channel Tunnel connecting the UK and France. Because of its depth, it is not possible for Israel to attack the site. Only the US was considered to have the “bunker buster” bomb strong enough to destroy Fordow.

The GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) used by the US in the attack weighs around 13,000 kg and can penetrate 18 m of concrete or 61 m of earth before exploding. Fordow tunnels are believed to be 80 m to 90 m below the surface. Thus, even the MOP was not a guaranteed solution for the attack, but it was the closest possible solution. According to CBS, MOPs were used in the strike.

Impact on Iran

It is unclear what sort of damage the US strikes have done to the nuclear facilities. It is also unclear if there were any casualties or injuries. According to the Deputy Political Director of Iran’s state broadcaster, Hassan Abedini, Iran had already evacuated the three nuclear sites some time ago. In a statement, Abedini said, “Iran did not suffer a major blow because the material had already been taken out.”

Possibility of retaliation by Iran

During the Israeli attacks, Iran’s capabilities to strike were weakened. Also, the regional proxies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza and in Syria, have been significantly dismantled. However, Iran is still capable of initiating a strike that may cause considerable damage.

Iran had previously warned the US against getting involved in the regional war, as it would result in “irreparable damage”. It also threatened to target US bases in the region in retaliation. Notably, there are at least 19 regions in the Middle East, including in Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Iran can also target the critical shipping route, Strait of Hormuz, that links the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean. Through this Strait, 30% of the world’s oil supply passes every year. Any attack on shipments on this route will have a catastrophic effect on the global oil market.

UN Secretary-General expressed concerns over US attacking Iran

In a post on social media platform X, Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, expressed concerns over the attack initiated by the US military on Iran. He said, “I am gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran today. This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security. There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control – with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world. I call on Member States to de-escalate and to uphold their obligations under the UN Charter and other rules of international law. At this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos.

There is no military solution.

The only path forward is diplomacy.

The only hope is peace.“

Notably, Israel attacked Iran on 13th June, targeting its nuclear and military sites under the codename ‘Operation Rising Lion‘. In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a large-scale drone and missile operation, ‘Operation True Promise 3’, and targeted Israeli fighter jet fuel production facilities and energy supply centres. It also attacked civilian establishments in which at least two Israelis were killed. Nine days after the first Israeli attack, the US officially entered the war.

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