The B-2 bomber crews said their goodbyes on a Friday night. They kissed their loved ones. No one knew when, or if, they would ever return home. It was a secret mission. It was highly complex. By Saturday evening, their families began to realize the gravity of the situation. The mission would take 37 hours.
This Thursday, the Pentagon, which is the U.S. Defense Department, released new details. They talked about America’s preparations. This included sending bombers to strike three nuclear sites in Iran. They also spoke about the crews involved. And they mentioned Iran’s efforts to defend itself. Pete Hegseth, the Minister of Interior, gave a brief statement. He called the operation “complex” and “secret.” But he did not share many specifics. General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, offered more detailed information.
General Caine revealed facts about the B-2 bomber crews. This information had not been public before. The crews included both men and women. Their ranks went from Captain to Colonel. Some were members of the Missouri Air National Guard. Most had trained at the Air Force Weapons School in the Nevada desert. Experts from many different agencies worked together. They designed a special bomb for this attack. It was designed to become a supercomputer within hours.
Just days before the mission, Iran tried to strengthen its defenses. They focused on the Fordow plant. This facility is buried deep, about 80 meters inside a mountain. Iran poured concrete to seal the ventilation shafts. The U.S. had planned to fire through these exact shafts. A change was made at the last second, but the operation still went ahead. A 30,000-pound bomb was dropped. It worked just as it was designed to. This was its first real use in combat. General Caine showed a video. It showed the giant bomb in action. A slow-motion clip showed it hitting what looked like a dummy bunker. An orange light burst from an open path. Then a huge fireball erupted. Caine then added, “Of course, no one was down there under the target. So we have no video from the target itself.”
However, the Defense Department did not release any proof. They did not show how effective the attack was. Mr. Hegseth and General Caine focused only on the Fordow plant. They did not talk about the other two targets. These were Natanz and Isfahan. The actual damage to the nuclear sites is still not clear. Mr. Hegseth mentioned that someone would need “a very large shovel” to dig down and check inside the facilities.
Early assessments from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) have already been reported. Many U.S. news agencies shared these reports. They said the attack did not destroy the main parts of Iran’s nuclear program. It might only delay the program by a few months. But John Ratcliffe, the CIA Director, had different information. His agency learned that the facilities were destroyed. Rebuilding them, he said, would take several years.
Mr. Hegseth stated that the DIA’s initial findings would need more time. He said it would take several weeks to get a clear picture. This includes how effective the attack was. It also covers its full impact on Iran’s nuclear program. He defended President Donald Trump. The President had repeatedly claimed that Iran’s nuclear program was completely destroyed. “I can guarantee,” Hegseth said, “that the President and his team, intelligence agencies, our officials, and others are doing all necessary assessments. They want to ensure this mission was truly successful.”
Source: CNN