Following President Donald Trump’s confirmation that the United States destroyed three of Iran’s most important nuclear installations, the Pentagon released information about its “strike package.”

According to the Department of Defence, the attack on Iran occurred yesterday evening at approximately 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), or 12.30 a.m. local time. The last missiles were dropped between 7.05 p.m. (Eastern Time) and 2.35 a.m. local time.

In his speech to the country, the 79-year-old president of Iran has since called the attack a “very successful attack on the three nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan” on Truth Social and asserted that Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facilities have been “completely and totally obliterated.”

Iranian authorities have acknowledged that the three locations were hit, but they have denied that any significant harm was caused. Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, described the US’s activities as “extremely dangerous, lawless, and criminal” and stated that they “will have everlasting consequences.”

Inside Operation Midnight Hammer

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters in the Pentagon today that the US stealth bombers were able to fly covertly while executing their mission, known as Operation Midnight Hammer.

“Our B-2s went in and out of these nuclear sites, in and out and back without the world knowing at all – in that way it was historic,” he stated.

But just yesterday, many of individuals posted video to Twitter showing these B-2 stealth bombers passing by.

A single individual wrote, “How is it stealth and invisible if random people see them and post on X?”

Another person said, “‘Stealth’ meanwhile the whole world knows,” also.

Air Force General Dan Caine, the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has now described the comprehensive attack plan that was carried out, which involved the firing of 75 precision guided weapons and more than 125 aircraft, some of which served as decoys.

“At midnight, Friday into Saturday morning, a large B-2 strike package comprised of bombers launched from the continental United States,” he said.

“As part of a plan to maintain tactical surprise, part of the package proceeded to the west and into the Pacific as a decoy, a deception effort known only to an extremely small number of planners and key leaders here in Washington and in Tampa.”

18-hour mission

The B-2 stealth bombers refuelled several times during their 18-hour mission to Iran.

Caine continued: “At approximately 5.00pm, Eastern Standard Time, last night and just prior to the strike package entering Iran, a US submarine in the central command area of responsibility launched more than two dozen tomahawk land attack cruise missiles against key surface infrastructure targets at Esfahan, as the ‘Operation Midnight Hammer’ strike package entered Iranian airspace.”

“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, sweeping in front of the package for enemy fighters and surface to air missile threats.”

“As the strike package approached Fordow and Natanz, the US protection package employed high speed suppression weapons to ensure safe passage of the strike package with fighter assets employing preemptive suppressing fires against any potential Iranian Surface to Air threats.”

Bunker buster bombs deployed at Fordow

The US is not aware of any rounds that were fired at its strike package during the flight in and out of the country, he continued.

“At approximately 6:40pm Eastern Standard Time, 2:10am, Iran time, the lead B-2 dropped two GBU-57 massive ordinance penetrator [GBU-57 MOP – otherwise known as a bunker buster bomb] weapons on the first of several aim points at Fordow,” Caine told the press.

“As the president stated last night, the remaining bombers then hit their targets as well, with a total of 14 MOPs dropped against two nuclear target areas.”

“All three Iranian nuclear infrastructure targets were struck between 6:40pm and 7:05pm eastern time again, that’s about 2.10am in the morning local time in Iran, with the tomahawk missiles being the last to strike at Esfahan to ensure we retain the element of surprise throughout the operation.”

During the operation, US soldiers “employed approximately 75 precision guided weapons,” including 14 GBU-57 MOPs, which weigh an incredible 30,000 pounds, Caine noted.

In addition to hundreds of maintenance and operational personnel, the operation involved over 125 US aircraft, including B-2 stealth bombers, several flights of fourth and fifth generation fighters, dozens and dozens of air refuelling tankers, a guided missile submarine, and a wide range of intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft, Caine explained.