Tensions are rapidly escalating in the Middle East after U.S. airstrikes targeted three Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend. Officials have warned that the first 48 hours following the attack are particularly dangerous. On Monday, Israel launched additional strikes, hitting airports across Iran and the notorious Evin prison in Tehran. Iran’s Health Ministry reported that Israeli attacks have killed at least 400 people and injured 3,000, while Iran’s retaliatory strikes have left 24 Israelis dead. Iran’s foreign minister met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, signaling plans for a coordinated response. Meanwhile, U.S. military bases, particularly in Erbil, Iraq, are on high alert. Airlines have canceled flights to the Gulf, and U.S. personnel in Qatar have been instructed to shelter in place as a precaution. Amid the unrest, Iran’s economy is straining under widespread business closures, heightening public anxiety.
In Washington, Vice President JD Vance praised President Trump’s national security team for executing the operation, calling it a clear display of preparedness and coordination. General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, outlined the details of “Operation Midnight Hammer,” which involved more than 125 aircraft, including B-2 stealth bombers and Tomahawk cruise missiles. The strikes targeted key nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. U.S. forces employed advanced deception tactics, using decoy aircraft and high-speed suppression weapons to bypass Iranian air defenses. The Pentagon confirmed that 14 bunker buster bombs were used in the operation, aiming to significantly degrade Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
