U.S. and Israel Strike Iranian Nuclear Sites in Major Escalation

(The Post Script)– The U.S., in coordination with Israel, has launched a series of military airstrikes on three major Iranian nuclear facilities, marking a dramatic escalation in long-standing efforts to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon. The targets included the highly fortified Fordow site, along with Natanz and Esfahan facilities central to Iran’s uranium enrichment program.

President Donald Trump announced the strikes in a post on Truth Social late Saturday, describing the mission as “very successful”. He confirmed that a “full payload of bombs” had been dropped on Fordow and that all U.S. aircraft had exited Iranian airspace safely. “Congratulations to our great American Warriors,” Trump wrote. “NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!”

Later that evening, Trump addressed the nation from the White House, joined by Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. In his remarks, Trump declared the strikes a “spectacular military success” and claimed that Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities had been “completely and totally obliterated”. While expressing hope that further military action would not be necessary, he warned that Iran still had “many targets left” and that additional strikes could follow swiftly if Iran failed to de-escalate.

One of the most significant components of the operation was the use of the U.S. Air Force’s Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), a 30,000-pound “bunker buster” bomb capable of penetrating deep underground facilities. The Fordow site, believed to be buried approximately 300 feet beneath a mountain, has long been considered nearly impervious to attack. The MOP was reportedly delivered by a B-2 stealth bomber, the only aircraft capable of carrying such a weapon, underscoring the advanced and targeted nature of the mission.

The strikes drew immediate political controversy. Senior Democratic leaders were notified shortly before Trump’s public announcement, while key military officials were informed through the Army Operations Center. Representative Jim Himes, the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, issued a strong rebuke of the strikes, calling them “a clear violation of the Constitution”. Himes criticized the administration for bypassing Congress and warned that the long-term consequences remained unclear.

The operation comes amid a sharp rise in tensions between Iran and Israel. In recent weeks, Israel has conducted a series of air raids on Iranian military and nuclear sites. In response, Iran launched waves of missiles and drones targeting Israeli cities, resulting in dozens of casualties. While Israel claims its strikes have been limited to military infrastructure, Iran alleges that more than 200 civilians have been killed in the conflict.

Iran has long maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful energy purposes. However, Israel and the United States have repeatedly expressed concerns that Tehran is covertly seeking the capability to build a nuclear weapon. Trump, who pulled the U.S. out of the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018, had initially indicated interest in negotiating a new agreement but shifted tone sharply in recent weeks. Earlier this month, he dismissed intelligence reports that Iran’s weapons program had been halted since 2003, insisting that Tehran was “very close” to building a bomb.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, speaking on social media earlier this month, warned that U.S. involvement in the conflict would result in “irreparable harm”. In one message, Trump had publicly identified Khamenei’s location, calling him “an easy target” but stating the U.S. would not assassinate him “at least not for now”.

ground troops, Saturday’s airstrikes represent the most direct U.S. military action against Iran in over a decade and signal a new phase of uncertainty in an already volatile region. A Pentagon briefing is scheduled for Sunday morning to provide further details as the world watches closely for Iran’s next move and the possibility of broader conflict.