Wed Jun 25 03:00:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text, written from a neutral perspective:

**U.S. Conducts Precision Strikes on Iranian Nuclear Facilities**

**Washington D.C. – June 25, 2025** – The United States military conducted precision strikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan on June 21, 2025. The operation, dubbed ‘Operation Midnight Hammer,’ involved B-2 Spirit stealth bombers deploying GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) “bunker buster” bombs, along with submarine-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles.

President Donald Trump announced the strikes, claiming the operation resulted in the “complete and total obliteration” of Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine detailed the operation, explaining the use of decoy aircraft and advanced tactics to penetrate Iranian defenses. The initial strike focused on the Fordow site, with subsequent strikes targeting Natanz and Isfahan. Approximately 75 precision-guided weapons were used.

Initial battle damage assessments indicated severe damage to all three sites, although some U.S. officials have since expressed doubts about the extent of the damage to the Fordow facility. The New York Times quoted a senior U.S. official who stated that the strike on the Fordow site did not destroy the heavily fortified facility but has severely damaged it, taking it “off the table.” The person noted that even 12 bunker-busting bombs could not destroy the site.

The Fordow facility, located deep underground near Qom, was targeted with GBU-57 MOPs, designed to penetrate hardened structures. Each B-2 can hold two MOP bombs. Each MOP can penetrate 200 feet underground. The B-2 Spirit bombers, which cost over $2 billion each and are notoriously maintenance-intensive, flew a 37-hour non-stop mission from their home base and back, refueling mid-air.

Secretary Hegseth stated the mission’s objective was to neutralize threats to U.S. national interests and support the collective self-defense of U.S. troops and ally Israel, not to change Iran’s regime. The whereabouts of enriched uranium are unknown. It is unclear whether the objectives of fully neutralising the nuclear enrichment facilities of Iran has been accomplished.

The B-2 fleet is being modernized with Northrop Grumman awarded a $7 billion contract for maintenance and improvement through 2029. The next generation bomber, the B-21 Raider, is similar to the B-2 and is under development. The USAF is looking at acquiring a minimum of 100 B-21 aircraft.

The strikes follow heightened tensions between Israel and Iran, with Israel reportedly initiating attacks on Iranian nuclear and military facilities on June 13.

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