The United States struck key Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend, dropping six 15-ton bunker-buster bombs on the heavily fortified Fordo enrichment facility and launching 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles at targets in Natanz and Isfahan, Fox News reported.
President Donald Trump confirmed the operation in an interview with Sean Hannity, stating that B-2 stealth bombers carried out the strike on Fordo, while U.S. submarines launched the cruise missiles. The attacks marked a significant escalation in the regional conflict that began on June 13 after Israeli airstrikes inside Iran.
“All planes are safely on their way home,” Trump said in a social media post. “There is not another military in the world that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!”
Fordo, buried deep near the city of Qom, is considered Iran’s most secure nuclear site, built to withstand conventional attacks. Iran had earlier warned the U.S. of “irreparable consequences” if it entered the conflict.
Tehran and Washington have long clashed over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. While Iran insists its program is peaceful, Trump reaffirmed that the U.S. will not allow Tehran to acquire nuclear weapons.
According to Iranian officials, Israeli strikes since June 13 have killed at least 430 people and wounded over 3,500. Israel says 25 people have been killed and hundreds injured by Iranian retaliatory missile attacks.