The United States has carried out coordinated airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, President Donald Trump confirmed on June 21, marking the most significant escalation since the beginning of the Israel-Iran conflict. The strikes targeted facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan and were executed by B-2 stealth bombers launched from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.
In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump described the operation as a “very successful attack,” stating that a “full payload of bombs” was dropped on the heavily fortified Fordow site. The president added, “All planes are now outside of Iranian airspace,” and called the mission “an amazing success.”
President Trump is expected to address the nation at 10:00 p.m. ET from the White House to elaborate on the mission’s objectives and implications. “This is a historic moment for the United States of America, Israel, and the world,” Trump wrote, adding, “Iran must now agree to end this war.”
Strategic Strike and Military Capability
The mission was carried out by B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, the only aircraft in the U.S. arsenal capable of delivering the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (GBU-57), also known as the “bunker buster.” Designed to destroy deeply buried, reinforced structures, the GBU-57 is equipped with a high-performance steel alloy casing that allows it to penetrate hardened targets, such as Iran’s underground enrichment sites.
According to a senior Pentagon official, the airstrikes resulted in no reported casualties and were aimed strictly at nuclear infrastructure. Over the past two weeks, U.S. military readiness levels in the region had been elevated in anticipation of potential escalation. Nearly 40,000 American troops stationed across the Middle East were placed on heightened alert.
Background to the Escalation
The conflict erupted on June 13 after Israel launched strikes against Iranian nuclear and military installations, aiming to curtail Tehran’s nuclear capabilities. Iran responded by targeting Israeli civilian areas with missile attacks. As the war entered its second week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Trump to involve the U.S. military. Trump had spent days weighing the decision before ordering the strike.
Trump’s decision follows a long-standing position he held since withdrawing from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. He has consistently maintained that Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
Political Fallout in Washington
The U.S. airstrikes have sparked immediate political reactions. Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY), a libertarian-leaning Republican, condemned the move as unconstitutional, stating that Trump bypassed congressional authorization. Massie had previously introduced legislation to restrict unilateral military actions without legislative approval.
Far-right Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene also voiced opposition, stating, “This is not our fight,” and criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for provoking the conflict. “Peace is the answer,” she said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
U.S. Evacuation Operations and Regional Response
Amid rising tensions, the U.S. State Department began evacuating American citizens and permanent residents from Israel and the West Bank earlier in the day. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee announced that assisted departure flights had commenced and urged individuals needing support to contact the embassy.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei previously warned on June 18 that any U.S. military intervention would cause “irreparable damage” to the United States. Tehran’s next steps remain unclear, but a counterattack is widely anticipated.
Outlook
While President Trump has framed the operation as a triumph of American military capability, the situation remains volatile. Iran has yet to issue a formal response to the strike. With international attention focused on the region, diplomatic channels are being tested as world leaders urge restraint to avoid a broader regional war.
Trump’s evening address is expected to provide further details and set the course for what comes next in the U.S. involvement in the escalating Middle East conflict.
