The United States has launched air strikes against Iranian nuclear sites, with President Donald Trump hailing the operation as a “very successful attack” and confirming that all American aircraft had returned safely.
Trump, who previously sought a new diplomatic agreement with Tehran after withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018, has recently aligned fully with Israel’s military campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and leadership. That campaign began just over a week ago.
Here’s a breakdown of what is known about the latest US strikes:
The Targets
According to Trump, American forces hit three significant Iranian nuclear sites: Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. The Fordo facility, which lies beneath a mountain near the central city of Qom, was reportedly struck with a “full payload of bombs.”
Fordo, originally constructed in violation of UN resolutions, was equipped with around 3,000 centrifuges capable of enriching uranium—a process used both for civilian energy purposes and, at higher levels, for producing nuclear weapons. Its deep underground location has long posed a challenge for Israeli forces, whose weaponry is not designed to reach such heavily fortified sites.
Natanz has served as Iran’s primary uranium enrichment centre, housing nearly 70 cascades of centrifuges. Meanwhile, Isfahan hosts facilities for uranium conversion and fuel fabrication essential for Iran’s nuclear programme.
The Munitions
Trump did not specify which munitions were used in the attack, but military experts believe the US likely deployed the GBU-57—a 30,000-pound (13,600-kilogram) bunker-busting bomb capable of penetrating fortified underground targets.
Known as the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, the GBU-57 can burrow up to 200 feet (60 metres) underground before detonation, allowing it to strike deeply buried facilities that conventional bombs cannot reach. The weapon has been in development since 2004, with Boeing completing its integration onto military aircraft in 2009.
The Aircraft
Only one type of aircraft in the US arsenal can carry the GBU-57: the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. Before the strikes, US media and flight monitoring websites tracked several B-2 bombers departing from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.
The B-2 is designed to evade advanced enemy defences and strike heavily protected targets deep within hostile territory. With a range of 6,000 nautical miles (about 9,600 kilometres) without refuelling, it has seen extensive combat service since its debut in the 1990s, including missions over Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
What Comes Next?
While Trump urged Iran to “agree to end this war” and declared that “now is the time for peace,” the aftermath remains uncertain. Tehran could opt to retaliate, potentially targeting American military personnel stationed across the Middle East or attempting to close the Strait of Hormuz—a critical maritime chokepoint through which about 20% of global oil shipments pass.
Whether the strikes lead to de-escalation or a dangerous widening of the conflict is yet to be seen.
