President Donald Trump on Thursday (19), publicly introduced he would determine “inside the subsequent two weeks” whether or not the US would be part of Israel’s escalating battle with Iran.

This assertion, delivered with attribute bravado, was extensively interpreted as a diplomatic pause—a possibility for negotiations or, on the very least, a warning to Tehran. Nevertheless, as later reporting revealed, this timeline was a calculated smokescreen. Whilst Trump spoke, the White Home was secretly finalizing plans for a large army strike in opposition to Iran’s nuclear program.

Secret Planning: Operation Midnight Hammer Takes Form

Behind the scenes, the choice to strike had already been made. In accordance with senior officers and reporting from The Washington Put up, Trump’s public “two weeks” was designed to throw off Iranian intelligence and purchase operational safety for the mission.

The plan, codenamed Operation Midnight Hammer, was recognized solely to a choose group of high US officers. Normal Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers, later described the mission as “extremely categorized,” with “only a few individuals in Washington” conscious of its timing or scope.

As Trump publicly weighed his choices, he was concurrently directing army leaders to organize for a precision assault. The Pentagon’s aim: to cripple Iran’s nuclear capabilities whereas avoiding a wider regional battle. Trump repeatedly pressed his advisers to maintain the mission slim, in search of to keep away from civilian casualties or the looks of regime change.

The Last Go-Forward: Diplomacy Fails, Strike Launched

All through the week, diplomatic efforts continued. Trump’s particular envoy Steve Witkoff maintained back-channel communications with Iran’s Overseas Minister Abbas Araghchi, whereas European officers tried to dealer a last-minute deal.

However by Friday (20), it was clear that talks had been going nowhere. “He knew there in all probability wouldn’t be a breakthrough, which is why the Pentagon was placing collectively a plan,” a senior official advised The Washington Put up.

Vp JD Vance, recognized for his skepticism of army entanglements, urged warning however finally supported the operation as Israeli airstrikes had degraded Iran’s air defenses, widening the window for a profitable US assault.

Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, DNI Tulsi Gabbard, and press secretary Karoline Leavitt had been among the many small circle learn in on the plan.

The Operation: Largest B-2 Bomber Strike in Historical past

On June 21, 2025, as Trump maintained a standard public schedule, the US army launched Operation Midnight Hammer—the most important B-2 operational strike in American historical past.

Seven B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, supported by greater than 125 plane together with fighter escorts, refueling tankers, and surveillance planes, took off from Missouri on a 37-hour round-trip mission to Iran. The operation additionally included submarine-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles and marked the fight debut of the GBU-57 “bunker-buster,” designed to destroy deeply buried targets.

The first targets had been Iran’s closely fortified nuclear websites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—services vital to Iran’s uranium enrichment program and constructed deep underground to face up to assault. The strikes had been timed with precision: all three websites had been hit between 6:40 p.m. and seven:05 p.m. EST, or about 2:10 a.m. native time in Iran. The Pentagon reported “extraordinarily extreme injury and destruction” to all focused websites, although full assessments are ongoing.

Secrecy and Coordination: Israel’s Function

Operation Midnight Hammer was meticulously coordinated with Israel, whose personal air marketing campaign had already weakened Iranian air defenses and diverted consideration. US officers communicated with Iran by means of diplomatic channels shortly earlier than the assault, assuring Tehran that the strikes had been restricted in scope and never supposed as a prelude to regime change.

The mission’s secrecy was so tightly maintained that many senior officers, together with some on the Pentagon, solely discovered of the operation after it was underway or accomplished. Trump’s announcement on social media got here simply 20 minutes after the final bomb fell.

Aftermath: Strategic Influence and International Reactions

The strikes marked a dramatic escalation within the US-Iran confrontation, with Trump declaring Iran’s nuclear enrichment services “fully and completely obliterated”. The White Home offered the operation as an illustration of “peace by means of energy,” signaling each resolve and restraint. Whereas the US insisted the assault was a one-off, Trump warned that “if peace doesn’t come shortly, we’ll go after these different targets”.

Iran’s instant response was muted, with officers vowing retaliation however taking no direct army motion in opposition to US forces within the hours following the strike. Army bases worldwide had been positioned on excessive alert, and oil markets braced for potential disruption.

Conclusion: A Calculated Gamble
Operation Midnight Hammer showcased the Trump administration’s willingness to mix public posturing with secret army planning. The “two weeks” bluff offered essential cowl for a fancy, high-risk mission, whereas the fast execution and overwhelming drive despatched a transparent message to each adversaries and allies. Because the world waits for Iran’s subsequent transfer, the legacy of this operation—and the technique behind it—will form US-Iran relations for years to return