WASHINGTON: President Trump and senior Pentagon officials have described the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities as a “complete and total obliteration” of their nuclear program. The operation, dubbed “Midnight Hammer,” involved B‑2 stealth bombers releasing bunker-buster bombs over key sites, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised the mission as “incredible” and “overwhelmingly successful,” emphasizing that it would take years for Iran to rebuild. Similarly, CIA and intelligence figures backed the assessment, saying the strikes caused “extremely severe damage.”
However, a preliminary report from the Pentagon’s own Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) offered a more cautious view. This low-confidence assessment suggested Iran’s nuclear capability might only be set back by a few months, noting that key infrastructure and enriched uranium may still be intact underground.
Senators from both parties raised concerns following briefings in Washington. Some supported the military action as necessary for deterrence, while others questioned whether sufficient evidence exists to support the Obama claimed “obliteration” claim. Intelligence officials acknowledged more data would be needed for a definitive conclusion.
Experts note a gap between political declarations and factual intelligence. Satellite imagery shows significant surface and structural damage, but it is unclear if core facilities remain functional. Meanwhile, U.S. agencies are preparing a full damage report, expected in the coming weeks.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.
