Iran was caught out by America’s overnight bombing blitz, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine has said, as he shed light on the Pentagon’s clinical operation.
The top Trump official faced reporters to reveal how the US went about pulverising Iran’s nuclear infrastructure in an operation that has been codenamed ‘Operation Midnight Hammer’.
The US airstrikes have been praised by President Trump who said the sites were “completely and totally obliterated” before warning Tehran more action could be taken should it refuse to renege.
In a comprehensive summary of the operation, Caine told reporters: “Last night, on the President’s orders, US Central Command executed Operation Midnight Hammer, a deliberate and precise strike against three Iranian nuclear facilities.
Dan Caine has explained why the US attack on Iran was so clinical
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“This was a complex and high risk mission carried out with exceptional skill and discipline by our joint force.
“This operation was designed to severely degrade Iran’s nuclear weapons infrastructure. It was planned and executed across multiple domains and theatres with coordination which reflects our ability to project power globally with speed and precision at the time and place of our nation’s choosing.
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“This was a highly classified mission with very few people in Washington knowing the time and nature of this plan.
“At midnight Friday into Saturday morning, a large B2 strike package comprised of bombers launched from the continent of the United States. As part of a plan to maintain tactical surprise, part of the package proceeded into the West and into the Pacific as a decoy.
Caine spoke to reporters about the attack
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“A deception effort known only to an extremely small number of planners and key leaders here in Washington and in Tampa. The main strike package comprised of seven B-2 spirit bombers, each with two crew members, proceeding quietly to the East with minimal communications.
“Throughout the 18-hour flight into the target area, the aircraft completed multiple in-flight refuellings. Once over land, the B-2s linked up with escort and support aircraft in a complex and tightly timed manoeuvre, requiring exact synchronisation across multiple platforms in a narrow piece of airspace, all done with minimal communications.
The general went onto explain that America’s attack was made successful as several measures were put in place to ensure Iran was sufficiently deceived.
He told reporters: “This type of integration is exactly what our joint force does better than anyone else in the world. At approximately 5pm EST last night, and just prior to the strike package entering Iran, as 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 Isfahan.
The 'unstoppable' US stealth bombers that dropped 30,000-pound 'bunker-busting' bombs in Iran attack“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 missile threats.
“The strike package was supported by US Strategic Command, US Transportation Command, US Cyber Command, US Space Command, US Space Force and US European Command.”
In a surprise twist, Caine said America’s offensive was almost entirely undetected as it “retained the element of surprise” throughout.
“We are unaware of any shots fired at the package soon the way out”, he said.
“Iran’s fighters did not fly, and it appears that Iran’s surface to air missile systems did not see us throughout the mission.
“We retained the element of surprise. In total, US forced employed approximately 75 precision guided weapons during this operation.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urged restraint following the air strikes, calling for a diplomatic solution to the crisis. The Prime Minister described Iran's nuclear programme as a "grave threat to international security" which the American military action would "alleviate".
"Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat," Starmer said. "The situation in the Middle East remains volatile and stability in the region is a priority."
Despite acknowledging the threat, the Prime Minister emphasised diplomacy: "We call on Iran to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis."
The UK was not involved in the strikes but was informed in advance of the operation.
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