Is the USA at War?

USA at war? Operation Midnight Hammer Targets Iranian Nuclear Sites as Global Tensions Escalate—What Happens Next?

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Introduction

Is the USA at War? The die is cast! Operation "Midnight Hammer" has been launched! That is exactly what I predicted in my previous article. If you read it, you know I discussed the possibility of the USA entering the conflict between Israel and Iran.

President Trump made a decision and dispatched strategic B‑2 bombers armed with GBU‑57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs—so‑called “bunker busters”—to carry out strikes in Iran. In addition to the bombers, Tomahawk missiles were launched from submarines targeting Iranian nuclear facilities.

What the USA and Trump Say

According to President Trump, all three bombed sites were completely destroyed, and Iran no longer possesses a nuclear program. The targets were nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, which he claimed were wiped off the face of the earth.

This is Trump's statement on his Truth Social:

Source: Truth Social

To prove this, the USA provided satellite images of the sites before and after the strikes, showing significant damage. This marks a sharp pivot in Trump’s policy—from “America First” rhetoric and the avoidance of “stupid wars” to a hard‑line “peace through strength” approach.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the operation was aimed solely at Iran’s nuclear program—not at its people or regime—and that regime change was not the objective.

Tehran confirmed that the sites were hit but dismissed claims of total destruction, asserting only light damage. Hassan Abedini, Deputy Political Director of Iranian state TV, said Iran had evacuated the facilities “some time ago” and that “no significant materials were present,” minimizing the impact.

How the Operation Proceeded

The mission began on June 21, 2025. Seven B‑2 Spirit bombers departed from Whiteman AFB in Missouri, undertaking a flight that lasted about 37 hours with multiple aerial refuelings.

A “kangaroo” or deception tactic was used: additional B‑2s flew west over the Pacific to confuse Iran's defense systems. In total, the bombers dropped 14 MOPs—with 12 on Fordow and 2 on Natanz—while a U.S. Ohio‑class submarine (likely the USS Georgia) launched around 30 Tomahawks at Natanz and Isfahan.

The air contingent included some 125 aircraft: F‑22s, F‑35s, F‑16s, aerial tankers, reconnaissance, and communications planes. The primary objective was neutralizing Iran's S‑300/Tor systems to secure a breach for the B‑2s. The bombers struck in about 25 minutes, with no detection or counterattack by Iran.

Source: New York Post

Escalation of Conflict

This is the feared escalation everyone hoped would be avoided, and now the eyes of the world are on the U.S. and President Trump, who delivered the final decision. Unfortunately, Trump chose the worst path, and now the ball is in Iran’s court.

Iran is expected to respond, and Russia and China have publicly sided with Iran, condemning the U.S. intervention.

Iran’s Possible Responses

To save face and maintain regime stability, Iran's remaining options include:

1. Asymmetric military operations and regional proxies (Hezbollah, Iraqi militias, Houthis) could target U.S. or Israeli forces with ballistic and cruise missiles.

   
   

2. Closure or mining of the Strait of Hormuz, affecting 20 % of global oil shipments and spiking prices.

   
   

3. Cyber-attacks and sabotage targeting the power grid, telecoms, healthcare, or military infrastructure in the U.S. or Israel.

   
   

4. Calibrated military escalation (“escalate to de‑escalate”), potentially launching missile strikes on Israel while keeping total war at bay.

   
   

5. Nuclear escalation, including expelling IAEA inspectors, enriching uranium to 60–90 %, and possibly threatening “dirty bombs,” which would likely kill all diplomatic options and invite further U.S. retaliation.

   
   

6. Diplomacy, which seems unlikely, any such move would risk collapsing the current government and undermining credibility.

Conclusion

Although President Trump insists the U.S. has not entered a war with Iran, Tehran clearly sees it differently and has promised “effective retaliation” against U.S. and Israeli targets. Even within the U.S., Republicans are divided, and Republicans, Democrats, and international allies have raised legal and moral concerns.

Europe echoed support against Iran’s nuclear aspirations, while China and Russia condemned the strikes. Iran has reportedly dispatched a delegation to Russia.

The situation remains volatile: if passions cannot be cooled and a peaceful resolution found, though that seems unlikely, the conflict may spiral further, drawing in additional players. As it stands, the Middle East faces a dark future, and this war is far from over.

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