U.S. Launches Strikes on Iranian Nuclear Sites, Israel Closes Airspace as Middle East Conflict Escalates
Tel Aviv and Washington Enter New Phase in Confrontation with Iran
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL — In a historic and highly volatile move, the United States has formally entered Israel’s ongoing military campaign against Iran by launching coordinated airstrikes on three of the Islamic Republic’s most sensitive nuclear facilities. The attacks, confirmed to have targeted Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan, mark the first direct U.S. military engagement inside Iran since tensions reignited in the wake of the Hamas-Israel war and Iran’s expanding regional influence.
The Israeli Airports Authority immediately announced a full closure of national airspace to all inbound and outbound commercial traffic “due to recent developments,” signaling the expectation of potential retaliatory strikes.
Trump Announces “Full Payload” Strike, Declares Operation a Success
President Donald Trump addressed the nation Sunday morning, hailing the strikes as a decisive blow to Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. “We have completed our very successful attack on the three nuclear sites in Iran… All planes are safely on their way home,” Trump said in a post on his social media platform. He emphasized that the U.S. deployed a full payload, including the use of bunker-buster bombs specifically on the Fordo facility—located deep within a mountain near Qom and previously considered virtually impenetrable.
In a second message, Trump declared: “This is a HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ISRAEL, AND THE WORLD. IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR. THANK YOU!”
The GBU-57 and the Return of the B-2 Bomber
Sources familiar with the operation confirmed that the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber was used to deliver the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a 30,000-pound bunker-busting bomb capable of penetrating up to 200 feet of reinforced concrete. This marks the first known combat use of the weapon, underscoring both the scale and seriousness of the U.S. intervention.
Fox News host Sean Hannity, citing direct communication with President Trump, revealed that six such bombs were dropped on Fordo, with additional 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from U.S. submarines in the region targeting Natanz and Isfahan.
Iran Denies Nuclear Contamination, Pledges Retaliation
Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization acknowledged the attacks on the Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan sites but claimed that operations would continue. Iran’s National Nuclear Safety System Center released a statement asserting that no radioactive material had been released in the strikes, and no environmental contamination had occurred.
“There is no danger to the residents living around the aforementioned sites,” the agency said, in a message that seemed aimed at both domestic reassurance and international optics.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei previously warned the U.S. that involvement in the conflict would result in “irreparable damage,” and a formal Iranian military response is widely expected. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei had called any American intervention “a recipe for an all-out war.”
H3: Global Alarm: U.N. and Allies React to Escalation
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres expressed grave concern over the strikes. “There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control — with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world,” Guterres stated.
While Israel praised the decision, with Prime Minister Netanyahu calling the attack “bold” and “historic,” other world leaders remained muted or alarmed. The international community is now bracing for potential fallout—both figuratively and literally—as Iran’s allies and proxies may respond across the region.
U.S. Embassy Initiates Evacuation Measures
In a move signaling serious concern for civilian safety, the U.S. Embassy in Israel has begun assisted departures for American citizens—marking the first such operation since the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023. The Pentagon has also repositioned U.S. naval and air assets closer to Israel and the Persian Gulf in anticipation of possible Iranian retaliation.
The Houthis in Yemen, who had paused their attacks on U.S. vessels in May, issued a warning that they would resume hostilities if the United States continued to support Israel’s military efforts directly.
Strategic Gamble or Calculated Blow?
Trump’s pivot from diplomacy to direct military engagement came after months of failed negotiations aimed at persuading Iran to scale back its uranium enrichment program. The former president had previously promised to avoid large-scale foreign conflicts, but administration insiders suggest he was ultimately convinced by Israeli officials and U.S. military strategists that the window for action was closing.
Israeli sources claimed that prior to the U.S. involvement, their strikes had already degraded Iran’s air defenses and missile infrastructure, clearing a pathway for more impactful joint operations.
The Fallout: What Comes Next?
With Fordo hit by America’s most powerful non-nuclear bomb, and Isfahan and Natanz also targeted, analysts say Iran’s nuclear program has suffered a major setback. But the question remains: At what cost?
Regional allies and adversaries alike are now repositioning. Israel remains on high alert for ballistic missile strikes. U.S. bases across the Middle East are elevating their defense posture. Oil prices have surged overnight on fears of disruption in the Strait of Hormuz.
As of Sunday evening, there is no confirmation of Iranian retaliation—but few believe the Islamic Republic will absorb the blows quietly.
Key Takeaways:
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U.S. has officially entered Israel’s war on Iran with direct strikes on nuclear facilities.
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Israel has closed its airspace in anticipation of retaliatory action.
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The GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator was likely used for the first time in combat.
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Iran denies nuclear contamination, but vows the war is far from over.
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The international community warns of a major regional war.
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