US enters Iran-Israel battle, hits nuclear facilities; Tehran retaliates; ceasefire brokered: 48-hour timeline
In the last two days, the Middle East saw a sudden and dangerous spike in conflict. What started as tension between Israel and Iran turned into a major crisis when US President Donald Trump stepped in.
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US strikes Iran
The US carried out major airstrikes on three of Iran's most important nuclear sites -- Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan -- marking a major escalation in the region.
The attack involved some of the most advanced weaponry in the American arsenal. B-2 Spirit bombers, commonly known as the Stealth, were used, six of them, to carry and drop massive "bunker buster" bombs on the underground Fordow nuclear site near Qom.
Operation Midnight Hammer
These bombs, officially called GBU-57s, are the most powerful bunker busters the US possesses.
The same munitions were also used on the Natanz facility located in Isfahan province.
In addition to the airstrikes, the US Navy launched 30 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles at Natanz and Isfahan. These long-range cruise missiles were fired from both ships and submarines, increasing the scale and reach of the assault.
The operation was named "Operation Midnight Hammer" by the United States, meant to send a clear message against the nuclear ambitions of Iran's Khamenei-led regime.
'Savage assault'
Iran reacted strongly, calling the attacks a "savage assault" and vowing that it would "never" stop its nuclear program.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards responded in loaded-words, saying that they would not be moved by threats from Trump or "criminal gangs ruling the White House and Tel Aviv."
'US will change history': Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, praised the operation. In a public video message, he said, "Congratulations President Trump.
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Your bold decision to target Iran's nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history."
The conflict did not stop there. Missiles continued to be exchanged between Iran and Israel, keeping the region on edge.
Iran's response to US
Then, Iran turned its attention to the United States. Late Monday, Iran launched a retaliatory strike on the US airbase at Al Udeid in Qatar, the largest American military base in the Middle East.
Loud explosions were heard across Doha and Lusail, and missiles were seen streaking across the sky. In response, Qatar shut down its airspace as a precautionary measure.
And just when a broader war seemed imminent, President Trump took to his social media platform to make a surprise announcement of peace.
Ceasefire brokered by Trump
"Israel & Iran came to me, almost simultaneously, and said, 'PEACE!' I knew the time was NOW. The World, and the Middle East, are the real WINNERS!" Trump posted.
He added, "Both Nations will see tremendous LOVE, PEACE, AND PROSPERITY in their futures. They have so much to gain, and yet, so much to lose if they stray from the road of RIGHTEOUSNESS & TRUTH. The future for Israel & Iran is UNLIMITED, & filled with great PROMISE."
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Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
How much damage was done? Inside the strikes that shook Iran's nuclear program
The US and Israel launched major strikes on Iran's nuclear sites to slow down its bomb-making ability. Key facilities like Natanz and Fordow were hit. Some machines were destroyed, but Iran may have moved uranium in time. Damage was serious, but how much is still unclear. Iran says its program will continue anyway. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What was hit? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Signs of damage before and after Did Iran move anything before the attacks? What do US agencies say? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads FAQs The US and Israel attacked Iran's nuclear sites to stop Iran from making nuclear weapons and to damage their uranium enrichment systems. Donald Trump said the strikes 'obliterated' Iran's nuclear program and set it back 'decades'.Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said the US failed to do anything important. Israeli intelligence said the damage was 'very significant'. But the US Pentagon said Iran was only set back 'a few months', according to the report by Telegraph.1. At the Natanz enrichment plant, Israel struck first and destroyed the main power station, power lines, backup generators, and fuel tanks. This made the centrifuges stop working. Satellite images showed smoke and three craters near enrichment halls, meaning deeper the US dropped 'bunker buster' bombs on Natanz, hitting underground areas. At least one 'penetration hole' was seen.2. Fordow enrichment plant, aka 'crown jewel' : The US dropped 12 giant bombs on Fordow under a mountain. They targeted ventilation shafts and centrifuge halls 80 meters deep. Bombs entered the main shaft at 1,000 ft/sec and exploded underground. Iran tried to cover the shafts with concrete, but the bombs blasted through. The actual damage is unknown because it's deep underground, as stated by Telegraph backfilled tunnels at Fordow and Isfahan before the strikes, maybe to block blasts or trap them inside. No dirt or debris was seen outside after, which may mean no tunnel IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said Fordow's centrifuges are 'no longer operational'. He said vibrations from the bombs destroyed the machines, which are very delicate. US and Israeli strikes also hit Iran's defence research HQ and University buildings in Tehran linked to nuclear work. These were linked to nuclear weapons development, as per the report by Telegraph.20 top military leaders and 14 nuclear scientists were assassinated. These people were key to building nuclear weapons. Iran replaced them quickly and stayed might have moved its uranium and equipment before the attacks. Trucks and bulldozers were seen at Fordow and Isfahan right before the US strikes. Later, Iran said it had moved the uranium to a secret place. US Vice President JD Vance said they'll work on finding and securing the uranium, as per Trump said nothing was moved, claiming it was just construction workers on site. Experts say it would have been difficult for Iran to move the uranium, but not impossible. Pickaxe Mountain, close to Natanz, might be hiding a secret underground facility — possibly deeper than one day before Israel's attack, Iran claimed it had built a new uranium enrichment site, but didn't say where it is. Experts believe more secret nuclear sites exist, as mentioned in the report by and Netanyahu want to show this as a victory to gain political support. Iran says its program is damaged but not dead — and they're still working on it. Trump claimed US intel intercepted a call where Iranians said, 'This place is gone.' Khamenei repeated that 'America failed.'US Pentagon said the strikes only delayed Iran's program by a few months. CIA is more hopeful — they say the damage was severe. Full truth will take weeks or months to know. Israel is now hunting inside Iran, even during ceasefire, for leftover nuclear US may demand that Iran give up its uranium in a future deal. Only Iran knows how much of its 400kg enriched uranium is left and where it is. Iran's parliament just suspended cooperation with the IAEA, cutting off global monitoring. Some Iranian leaders now even want to build and test a nuclear bomb. Experts say it could take Iran years to rebuild what was lost, according to Telegraph destroyed power supplies and underground tunnels at key sites like Natanz and Fordow, damaging uranium-enriching machines and slowing down Iran's nuclear think Iran moved some uranium to secret places before the strikes, but there is no clear proof, and Iran denies it.
Mint
33 minutes ago
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Satellite images show Iran expanding Fardo nuclear facility after US bombed the site last week
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Mint
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