Trump announces attacks on Iranian nuclear sites as US joins Israel-Iran conflict

President Donald Trump announced Saturday that the U.S. military struck three sites in Iran, as America joins Israel's conflict against Iran.
The decision to directly involve the U.S. comes after more than a week of strikes. The U.S. joined the conflict on the side of Israel, which had hoped to destroy Iran's nuclear program once and for all.
The repercussions from the strikes could be dire — a much wider regional conflict could be on the horizon. Israel had also been working to destroy the country's air defenses and offensive missile capabilities.
"We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday. "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."
"Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter," he concluded. He later added that he would be addressing the nation at 10 p.m. EDT to discuss the attacks.
Israeli officials previously said that American stealth bombers and a 30,000-pound bunker buster bomb that only the U.S. has offered the best chance of destroying heavily fortified sites connected to Iran's nuclear program. They were buried deep underground.
Israel's military warned on Saturday that it's ready for a lengthy war with Iran, as the U.S. military was seen moving multiple B-2 bombers westward.
Iran's foreign minister said on Saturday that U.S. military involvement in the conflict "would be very, very dangerous for everyone," and the prospect of a wider war has many worried. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, added that the U.S. striking Iran could "result in irreparable damage for them."
The Houthis said on Saturday that "Washington must bear the consequences for the attacks." They said previously that they would continue attacks on American ships in the Red Sea if the country attacked Iran.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-W.V.) slammed the bombing and penned on X, "This is not constitutional."
The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, warned that the U.S. had already begun "assisted departure flights" from Israel for the first time since the invasion by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, which sparked the Israeli retaliation in Gaza.
Israel's military said it struck an Iranian nuclear research facility overnight and killed three senior Iranian commanders in pursuit of its goal to destroy Iran's nuclear program. That came just over a week after two other very similar strikes.
In Isfahan, where Iran's primary nuclear facility is, smoke could be seen rising near a mountain. The province's deputy governor for security affairs, Akbar Salehi, confirmed that Israeli strikes damaged the facility, according to The Associated Press.
The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed the attack as well and said it was the same facility targeted over a week ago on the war's first day. It was "extensively damaged," but there isn't any risk of off-site contamination — which is the reason attacking nuclear facilities is prohibited under the Geneva Convention and considered a war crime.
It's not clear if that has changed following the U.S.'s strikes on the facilities.
Iran retaliated by launching drones and missiles at Israel, but there were no reports of any significant damage. Iran hasn't yet officially acknowledged Saturday's attacks from the U.S.
According to an Israeli military official, the Israeli military has taken out over 50% of Iran's launchers. "We're making it harder for them to fire toward Israel," he said.
Israeli military chief spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin later said Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir told the army to prepare for a "prolonged campaign" against Iran.
US military moves B-2 bombers west
The B-2 bombers that appeared to be moving west took off from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri on Friday night, according to flight tracking data obtained and reviewed by
CNN
.
On Saturday, the planes were flying over the Pacific, and they appeared to be headed toward Guam.
B-2 bombers are the only planes capable of carrying the Massive Ordinance Penetrator, which experts highlighted as the only type of bomb that could potentially destroy Iran's secretive underground Fordow nuclear facility, which is located a couple of hundred miles east of Tehran.
Israel's strikes have so far impacted the facility in Natanz in the Isfahan province, but they haven't been able to reach the Fordow facility. It's also believed that only the American bombs can penetrate or do any sort of significant damage to the facility and that none of the weapons Israel has are adequate.
Each B-2 bomber can reportedly carry two of the "bunker buster" bombs, which each weigh 30,000 pounds.
Trump spent the majority of last week in the Situation Room, reportedly reviewing attack plans and quizzing officials about the potential consequences of each one.
The president indicated a two-week timeline for a decision on whether or not to involve the U.S. military in the conflict between Israel and Iran. Saturday seemed to be the day he made his decision, involving the U.S. in the conflict.

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The Irish Sun

an hour ago

• The Irish Sun

How Donald Trump hammered Iran's nuke bases with bunker buster bombs and missiles fired from submarines

DONALD Trump has blitzed Iran's nuclear bases to stop the Ayatollah's doomsday project in a complex operation from air and sea. The president has declared the strike a Advertisement 9 Donald Trump in the Situation Room during the strike Credit: Reuters 9 Tomahawk missiles fired from submarines were used to strike two bases (stock image) Credit: AFP 9 The B-2A Spirit was used to carry the bunker busting bombs Credit: Getty 9 To do that, Trump used some of the US military's most advanced weapons. Six 30,000lb bunker busting bombs - officially called the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) - were used to hit the most difficult target, Trump told Fox News. They were dropped from B-2 bombers flying high in the atmosphere for 37 hours all the way from Missouri, the The lethal bombers even refuelled several times in the air so they didn't have to land. Advertisement Read more on world news B-2 bombers were the only weapon which could do the job - because the Ayatollah's prized Israel has been unable to destroy the site by itself - with Trump declaring on Saturday that only America could destroy it from above. Now, Trump claims he has done so - with six bunker busters able to bury deep through the rock and hit the base. The missiles - 20ft long and carrying a 5,000lb warhead - were dropped by the B-2s, hit the earth, and buried themselves deep into the rock before they exploded. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun Exclusive Exclusive Iran claims that it knew the attack was coming and evacuated anything of value from the base. But two other of Iran's nuclear facilities were also hit - Natanz and Isfahan. How Trump COULD destroy Iran's prize nuclear bunker They were blitzed by 30 Tomahawk missiles fired from submarines 400miles away. Tomahawk missiles are a long-range weapon which can be fired from land or sea and can travel at least 1,000miles. Advertisement The US keeps a naval base across the Persian Gulf from Iran in Bahrain. The complex at Natanz holds Iran's largest uranium enrichment plant - crucial for getting the material to weapons grade. 9 A US submarine - capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk missiles Credit: AP 9 Isfahan nuclear power plant Credit: AFP Advertisement 9 One B-2 also dropped two bunker busters on Natanz, according to the New York Times. Isfahan is thought to hold a repository of near bomb-grade nuclear material. Both Natanz and Isfahan had previously been hit by Israel. Advertisement The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, previously said Iran's biggest atomic plant at Natanz was knocked out by the first waves of the Israeli offensive. Mr Grossi said: "The above-ground part of the pilot fuel enrichment plant, where Iran was producing uranium enriched up to 60% U-235, has been destroyed". Uranium-235 is essential both for nuclear power stations and also for nuclear weapons . 9 Trump addressing the nation revealed America had 'obliterated' Fordow Credit: Alamy Advertisement 9 Posting on Truth Social, President Donald Trump announced that US bombers targeted Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan enrichment sites. The bombings come just two days after Trump said he would decide "within two weeks" whether to join key ally Israel in attacking Iran. In a nationally televised speech at the White House, Trump said: "Tonight I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Advertisement 'Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier. "There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days." Iran's Nuclear Sites Arak plant - satellite pictures of this plant near the Iranian town of Arak surfaced over 20 years ago. It contains a heavy-water reactor with plutonium that can be used for nuclear bombs. Bushehr nuclear power station - this power plant is a combination of Russian and German engineering. It's nuclear reactor is operating at 100% power and the site is home to enriched uranium, used for nuclear bombs. Gachin uranium mine - home to uranium ore concentrate, or yellowcake, which can be transformed into enriched uranium ready for nuke bomb assembling. Isfahan conversion plant - yellowcake is converted here into three dangerous substances. Hexafluoride gase used in the enrichment process, uranium oxide used to fuel reactors and metal used in the cores of nuclear bombs. Natanz uranium enrichment plant - this is Iran's largest enrichment base. It's made up of three underground buildings and is closely watched by the international community. Parchin military site - south of Tehran, this site is focused on research and the production of ammo, rockets and explosives. Concerns have been raised that it is also used as part of Iran's nuclear weapon development. Qom uranium enrichment plant - a heavily fortified and initially secret facility where Iran carries out uranium enrichment.

Irish Examiner

2 hours ago

• Irish Examiner

US strikes three Iranian nuclear sites

President Donald Trump said that the United States military struck three sites in Iran, directly joining Israel's effort to decapitate the country's nuclear programme in a risky gambit to weaken a longtime foe amid Tehran's threat of reprisals that could spark a wider regional conflict. Iran's state-run IRNA news agency, quoting a provincial official, confirmed attacks on Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites. The decision to directly involve the US in the war comes after more than a week of strikes by Israel on Iran that have moved to systematically eradicate the country's air defences and offensive missile capabilities, while damaging its nuclear enrichment facilities. US and Israeli officials have said that American stealth bombers and the 30,000-pound (13,500-kg) bunker buster bomb they alone can carry offered the best chance of destroying heavily-fortified sites connected to the Iranian nuclear programme buried deep underground. 'We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,' Mr Trump said in a post on social media. '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.' Mr Trump added in a later post that he would address the national audience at 10pm eastern time, writing: 'This is an HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ISRAEL, AND THE WORLD. IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR. THANK YOU!' Trump said B-2 stealth bombers were used but did not specify which types of bombs were dropped. The White House and Pentagon did not immediately elaborate on the operation. The strikes are a perilous decision for the US as Iran has pledged to retaliate if it joined the Israeli assault, and for Mr Trump personally, having won the White House on the promise of keeping America out of costly foreign conflicts and scoffed at the value of American interventionism. Trump told reporters on Friday that he was not interested in sending ground forces into Iran, saying it's 'the last thing you want to do.' He had previously indicated that he would make a final choice over the course of two weeks, a timeline that seemed drawn out as the situation was evolving quickly. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned the United States on Wednesday that strikes targeting the Islamic Republic will 'result in irreparable damage for them'. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei declared 'any American intervention would be a recipe for an all-out war in the region'. Trump has vowed that he would not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon and he had initially hoped that the threat of force would bring the country's leaders to give up its nuclear program peacefully. Israel 's military said Saturday it was preparing for the possibility of a lengthy war, while Iran's foreign minister warned before the U.S. attack that American military involvement 'would be very, very dangerous for everyone.' The prospect of a wider war threatened, too. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen said they would resume attacks on U.S. vessels in the Red Sea if the Trump administration joins Israel's military campaign. The Houthis paused such attacks in May under a deal with the US. The US ambassador to Israel announced the US had begun 'assisted departure flights,' the first from Israel since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, that sparked the war in Gaza. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at Thursday's press briefing that Trump had said: 'I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks.' Instead, the U.S. president struck just two days later. Trump appears to have made the calculation — at the prodding of Israeli officials and many Republican lawmakers — that Israel's operation had softened the ground and presented a perhaps unparalleled opportunity to set back Iran's nuclear program, perhaps permanently. The Israelis say their offensive has already crippled Iran's air defences, allowing them to already significantly degrade multiple Iranian nuclear sites. But to destroy the Fordo nuclear fuel enrichment plant, Israel appealed to Trump for US bunker-busting bomb, which uses its weight and sheer kinetic force to reach deeply buried targets and then explode. The penetrator is currently only delivered by the B-2 stealth bomber, which is only found in the American arsenal. The bomb carries a conventional warhead, and is believed to be able to penetrate about 200 feet (61 meters) below the surface before exploding, and the bombs can be dropped one after another, effectively drilling deeper and deeper with each successive blast. The International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed that Iran is producing highly enriched uranium at Fordo, raising the possibility that nuclear material could be released into the area if the GBU-57 A/B were used to hit the facility. Previous Israeli strikes at another Iranian nuclear site, Natanz, on a centrifuge site have caused contamination only at the site itself, not the surrounding area, the IAEA has said. Mr Trump's decision for direct US military intervention comes after his administration made an unsuccessful two-month push — including with high-level, direct negotiations with the Iranians — aimed at persuading Tehran to curb its nuclear programme. For months, Mr Trump said he was dedicated to a diplomatic push to persuade Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions. And he twice — in April and again in late May — persuaded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold off on military action against Iran and give diplomacy more time. The US in recent days has been shifting military aircraft and warships into and around the Middle East to protect Israel and US bases from Iranian attacks. All the while, Mr Trump has gone from publicly expressing hope that the moment could be a 'second chance' for Iran to make a deal to delivering explicit threats on Mr Khamenei and making calls for Tehran's unconditional surrender. 'We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding,' Mr Trump said in a social media posting. 'He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.' The military showdown with Iran comes seven years after Mr Trump withdrew the US from the Obama-administration brokered agreement in 2018, calling it the 'worst deal ever'. The 2015 deal, signed by Iran, US and other world powers, created a long-term, comprehensive nuclear agreement that limited Tehran's enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Mr Trump decried the Obama-era deal for giving Iran too much in return for too little, because the agreement did not cover Iran's non-nuclear malign behaviour. Mr Trump has bristled at criticism from some of his Maga faithful, including conservative pundit Tucker Carlson, who have suggested that further US involvement would be a betrayal to supporters who were drawn to his promise to end US involvement in expensive and endless wars.

Irish Independent

3 hours ago

• Irish Independent

‘Prolonged campaign' could be on the cards for Israelis as Iranian nuclear research facility is hit

Iranians hit back with missile strikes, while US begins 'assisted departure flights' from Israel Today at 21:30 Israel's military said yesterday it was preparing for the possibility of a lengthy war, and announced it struck an Iranian nuclear research facility overnight while also killing three senior Iranian commanders in targeted attacks. The prospect of a wider war was also threatened. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen said they would resume attacks on US vessels and warships in the Red Sea if the Trump administration joins Israel's military campaign against Iran. The Houthis paused such attacks last month under a deal with the US.