The United States has directly intervened in the ongoing war between Israel and Iran by striking three key Iranian nuclear sites: Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. This action marks a significant escalation as the U.S. supports Israel’s efforts to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program. President Donald Trump declared in a national address that these sites had been “entirely and utterly destroyed,” although independent damage assessments are not yet available
The attacks involved the use of B-2 stealth bombers equipped with 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs designed to penetrate deep underground, particularly targeting the Fordo enrichment facility, which is built inside a mountain. Additionally, U.S. submarines launched about 30 Tomahawk missiles during the operation
Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization confirmed the strikes but insisted that its nuclear ambitions would not be halted. Both Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog reported no immediate signs of radioactive contamination following the attacks. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that the U.S. attacks “will have lasting consequences” and that Tehran “retains all options” for retaliation. Shortly after the U.S. strikes, Iran launched missile attacks on northern and central Israel, causing injuries and prompting air raid sirens across Israel
The U.S. action occurred without congressional approval, with Trump warning that further strikes would follow if Iran retaliated against American forces. Israel responded by closing its airspace to all flights in the wake of the U.S. strikes. The intervention follows over a week of Israeli airstrikes that had already weakened Iran’s air defenses and damaged its nuclear enrichment capabilities
This U.S. military engagement is seen as a risky move that could escalate the conflict into a broader regional war, with Iran condemning the strikes as a violation of international law and a dangerous escalation. The situation remains highly volatile, with ongoing missile exchanges and heightened tensions across the region.