The United States Caried Out a Middle-Of-The-Night Attack Using Decys and Deception That Completely “Obliterated” Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has declared.
But Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine Immedialy Undercut this, Telling Reporters That While An Initial Assessment Indicated “Severe Damage and Destruction,” it WOULD TIME TIME FOR THE FINAL BATTLE DAMAGE TO BE KNOWN.
Outlining The Attack on Sunday Morning, Hegseth Also repeated President Donald Trump’s Pleny that Any Retaliation Wood Be Met with “Further Force” and Warned Global Leaders: “American Deterrence Is Back. When President Speaks, The World Should Listen.”
President Donald Trump Delivers an address to the nation alongside vice president JD vance, secretary of state Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after bombing Iran. / Carlos Barria/ Reuters
“The United States does not Seek War, But Let Me Be Clear, We Will Act Swiftly and Decisively When Our People, Our Partners, and Our Troops Are Threaded.”
The Press Conference Came After Trump Addressed The Nation at the White House on Saturday Night – Two Days Into the “Within Two Weeks” Window He Claimed He Would Give Himself to Make the Call.
But the Move – Which Was Done Without Congressional Approval – Has Prompted Calls of Impeachment Among Democrats and Risks of Widespread Retaliation by Iran on US Military Assets and Troops in the region.
Us Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Ar Force General Dan Caine Hold A briefing at the Pentagon, After The US Struck Iranian Nuclear Facilities, During the Israel-Irael Conflict, In Arlington, Virginia, Us, June 22, 2025. / US Department of Defense Via Via Via Reuters
“Trump’s Actions May Be Lauded as Tactical Success, Buty Will Make Future Diplomacy with Adversaries Costlier, and In the Case of Iran, It Will Only Encourage Nuclear Development,” Adam Weinstein, Deputy Director of the Middle East Program at the Quinch Institute, Told the Daily Beast.
Detailing “Operation Midnight Hammer” on Sunday, Caine Told Reporters That Be Began Just Midnight Friday and Inturday Morning, and Involved the Use of About 75 Precision-Guided Weapons to Hit Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan-The Core of Iraniaian Nuclear Infrastructure.
This included the use of 30,000-pound “Bunker Bombs,” Marking America’s First Ever Operational Use of this Weapon.
AN OPERATIONAL TIMELINE OF A STRIKE ON IRAN IS DISPLAYED DURING A NEWS CONFERENCE WITH CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF AIR FORCE GEN. DAN CAINE AND US DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH AT THE PENTAGON ON June 22, 2025. / Getty Images
While it runs Take time for the final Battle Damage to Be Known, an Initial Assessment Indicated “Severe Damage and Destruction,” Caine Said. NOTABLY, THE JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN – WHEE ADVICE TRUMP IS SAID TO HAVE RELIED ON OVER HEGSETH’S – STOPPED SHORT OF USING THE TERM “OBLITERATED.”
The US Employed Several Deception Tactics, Including Decoys As the Fourth and Fifth Generation Aircraft Pushed Out in Front of the Strike Package at High Altitude and High Speed, Sweepping in Front of the Package for Enemy Fighters and Surface-To-A-A-A-Air Missile Threats Said. “Following Weapons Release, The Midnight Hammer Strike Package Exited Iranian Airspace, and the Package Began Its Return Home. We are Unaware of Any Shots Fired at the Package on The Way Out.”
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine With President Donald Trump in the Situation Room Saturday. / The White House/ Handout via Reuters
The Highly Guarded Mission Appeared to catch iran – the world –by surprise.
Speculation Simmered Earlier on Saturday, When Us Officials Told Reuters That B-2 Bombers Were Moved to the Pacific Island of Guam, Prompting Questions About When the Deployment Was Tied to the Middle East.
However, Caine Admitted That This Was Just a Ruse.
So, too, was the smokescreen timeframe trump gave to make a decision on the Attack, Officials have said. There Were No Obvious Signs That an Attack Was Imminent When the President Arrived Back at the White House Around 6 PM On Saturday.
After His Helicopter, Marine One, Landed on the South Lawn, Trump Gestured to the Newly Installed American Flag and Gave a Thumbs Up and a Fist-Pump To the Press But Did Not Take questions.
The White House Called A “Lid” for the day at 6:44 PM— The Signal Used to Discmissions Pool Reporters with the Understanding That the President Isn’t Going Anywhere Or Doing Anything in Public. All Three Iranian Nuclear Infrastructure Targets Were Struck Between 6:40 PM and 7:05 PM EST, Or About 2.10 AM Location Time in Iran, Caine Said.
The Attack Came Despite the US Intelligence Community – Inncluding Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard – INSISTING THAT IRAN IS NOTING TO BUILD A NUCLEAR WEAPON. After Trump Dismissed Gabbard As “Wrong,” She Reverse Course on Friday, Saying Iran Was Capable of Producing A Nuclear Weapon “Within Weeks to Months.” Nevertheless, She was noticeably absent from situation Room Photos The White House Releaed on Saturday Night.
Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Said the Lack of Congressional Approval Was “Absolily and Clearly Grinds for Impeachment.”
Democrat Senator Chris Murphy Said he was Brefed on the Intelligence Last Week.
“Iran Posed No Imminent Threat of Attack to the United States,” He Said, Adding That The Attack Was Therefore “Illegal.”