Hegseth and Gen. Caine Detail Air Strikes Against Iran

Geopolitical & Security Landscape - The US military conducted a precision operation to devastate Iran's nuclear program, emphasizing it was not targeting Iranian troops or people [1][28] - The operation, dubbed "Midnight Hammer," involved strikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities [10][15] - The US asserts that Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons and that American deterrence is back [2][3] - The US military is postured to respond swiftly and decisively to any Iranian retaliation or proxy attacks [8][22] - Public and private messages are being sent to Iran, urging them to negotiate and abandon their nuclear program [46] Military Operation Details - The operation involved B-2 stealth bombers, fourth and fifth-generation fighters, air refueling tankers, and a guided missile submarine [7][21] - Seven B-2 bombers launched from the continental US, with some proceeding to the Pacific as a decoy [12][13] - The B-2 strike included the longest B-2 Spirit bomber missions since 2001 [7] - A US submarine launched over two dozen Tomahawk land cruiser missiles against key surface infrastructure targets at Esfahan [15] - US forces employed 75 precision-guided weapons, including GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs), marking the first use of this weapon [20] - All three Iranian nuclear infrastructure targets were struck between 6:40 PM and 7:45 PM Eastern Time (2:10 AM local time in Iran) [18] Strategic & Political Considerations - The US maintains that the operation was a focused mission on the destruction of Iranian nuclear capabilities, not regime change [28][39] - The US claims to have complied with notification requirements to congressional leaders after the planes were safely out [31] - The US acknowledges the challenges of allies in the region and has been working in collaboration with them [44] - The US states that Iran's fighters did not fly, and its missile systems did not detect the US strike package [19] - The US believes the operation will have a clear psychological impact on Iran, hoping they will pursue negotiated peace [49] Alliances & Cooperation - The US recognizes Israel's military success in degrading Iranian capabilities and acknowledges ongoing conversations and cooperation [6][41] - The US took advantage of preparatory work done in terms of access of approach, but it was a US-led strike [42]