Trump Drops the Hammer: U.S. Airstrikes Rock Iran’s Nuclear Program

In a dramatic escalation of the Israel-Iran conflict, U.S. President Donald Trump announced late Saturday that American forces had launched airstrikes on three major Iranian nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan—directly entering the conflict alongside Israel and marking a historic shift in U.S. Middle East policy.

 

Key Highlights

 

Direct U.S. Military Action: Trump confirmed via Truth Social that the U.S. military executed a "very successful attack" on three Iranian nuclear sites, deploying a full payload of bombs, particularly on the heavily fortified Fordow facility.

 

Escalation of Regional Conflict: This is the first time the U.S. has directly targeted Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, following more than a week of Israeli strikes aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear and military capabilities.

 

Strategic Targets: The strikes focused on Fordow (deep underground and heavily protected), Natanz, and Esfahan—sites central to Iran’s uranium enrichment and nuclear ambitions.

 

Military Assets Used: Reports indicate the use of U.S. B-2 stealth bombers and 30,000-lb. bunker buster bombs, the only conventional weapons capable of penetrating Fordow’s defenses.

 

Immediate Aftermath: Trump declared all U.S. aircraft safely out of Iranian airspace and praised American military personnel, stating, “NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!”.

 

Potential Fallout: The strikes risk triggering Iranian retaliation, with Tehran previously warning that U.S. involvement would bring “irreparable damage” and could widen the conflict regionally.

 

Political Reversal: The move marks a stark reversal for Trump, who campaigned on keeping America out of new Middle East wars, but now faces a rapidly evolving crisis with global implications.

 

International Response: Efforts by Western nations to broker a ceasefire have so far failed, and the Arab League has condemned the escalation, urging a return to diplomacy.

 

Uncertain Damage: While the full extent of destruction to Iran’s nuclear program is still being assessed, initial reports suggest significant infrastructure damage and casualties among Iranian military and nuclear personnel.

 

“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home.”

— President Donald Trump, Truth Social

 

As the world waits for Iran’s response and the potential for wider conflict, Trump is set to address the nation, framing the operation as both a military triumph and a call for peace.

 

Source: USA Today, Politico, CNBC, CTV News, The War Zone, NBC News, CBS News, NPR, Reuters, Global News, PBS, CNN, Washington Post.