The United States has launched military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, with President Donald Trump announcing Saturday that American forces targeted three sites within Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
President Trump confirmed the operation through a social media post, stating the strikes had been completed. “We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” Trump wrote. He added that “All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home.”
The Associated Press reported that there has been no immediate acknowledgment from Iranian authorities regarding the strikes. The targeted facilities are part of Iran’s nuclear program, with Fordow and Natanz being key uranium enrichment sites, while Esfahan houses nuclear research facilities.
The military action represents direct U.S. involvement in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, which has seen more than a week of strikes by Israeli forces against Iranian targets. Those previous strikes reportedly focused on Iran’s air defense systems and missile capabilities, as well as nuclear enrichment facilities.
U.S. and Israeli officials had previously indicated that American stealth bombers carrying 30,000-pound bunker buster bombs would be necessary to effectively target Iran’s heavily fortified underground nuclear installations. The specialized aircraft and munitions were considered essential for reaching facilities buried deep underground.
The strikes mark a significant development in Middle East tensions and represent the first direct U.S. military action against Iranian territory. The operation comes amid ongoing regional conflicts and follows years of international disputes over Iran’s nuclear program.
Iranian officials have not yet responded to the strikes or provided details about potential damage to the targeted facilities. The international community and regional allies have not yet issued official statements regarding the U.S. military action.
The timing of the strikes coincides with broader regional instability and follows previous diplomatic efforts to address concerns about Iran’s nuclear activities through various international agreements and sanctions regimes.
Military analysts note that the targeted facilities represent critical components of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, though the full impact of the strikes remains to be assessed. The operation involved coordination between multiple U.S. military assets and required careful planning to execute strikes on heavily defended targets.
The development adds a new dimension to the ongoing Middle East conflicts and may influence future diplomatic and military strategies in the region. Various stakeholders are likely to respond to this escalation in the coming days as the situation continues to develop.