President Donald Trump has confirmed that U.S. forces carried out overnight airstrikes on three of Iran’s key nuclear facilities, marking a major escalation in the conflict between Iran and Israel. The operation, reportedly codenamed Rising Lion, was conducted in full coordination with Israel.
In a televised address following the strikes, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the action. “Tonight, President Trump and the United States acted with a lot of strength,” Netanyahu said. “His leadership today has created a pivot of history that can help lead the Middle East and beyond to a future of prosperity and peace.”
According to U.S. defense sources, the targets included Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan sites central to Iran’s uranium enrichment program. Fordo, built deep inside a mountain south of Tehran, is known for its fortified structure. The United States reportedly used GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators bunker-busting bombs capable of penetrating concrete and rock before detonation.
While the full extent of the damage is still being assessed, satellite images from Natanz show multiple destroyed buildings. Iranian officials have confirmed the attacks but claim they removed sensitive material prior to the strikes. Tehran called the airstrikes a “violation of international law” and promised “lasting consequences.”
Netanyahu, speaking from Jerusalem shortly before dawn, thanked Trump directly. “The people of Israel thank you. The forces of civilization thank you. God bless America,” he stated.
Trump did not take questions but delivered a clear message. “Peace through strength. First comes strength, then comes peace,” he said. He warned Tehran that future attacks would be “far greater” unless it returned to negotiations.
The U.S. had given its allies, including the UK, advance notice. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that British military personnel in the region had been placed on high alert. “We’ve taken all necessary measures to protect UK interests,” Starmer said.
Inside Iran, air raid sirens sounded in multiple cities shortly after the strikes. Iran responded by launching missiles toward Tel Aviv and Haifa. Officials in Israel reported injuries but no confirmed fatalities.
Despite high tensions, radiation levels at the bombed sites have remained stable, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Independent experts also noted that uranium enrichment sites are not likely to cause widespread contamination when struck, unless fissionable material is active and exposed.
The Fordo site, located about 60 miles south of Tehran, is considered Iran’s most secure nuclear facility. The attack on this heavily protected site underscores the scale and precision of the U.S. operation.
Trump had issued an ultimatum earlier this week, giving Tehran two weeks to reenter nuclear talks. The strikes came days ahead of that deadline, signaling an abrupt shift in U.S. posture.
The situation remains fluid. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine are expected to brief the press at the Pentagon later today. Officials from the White House and State Department are also scheduled to make statements.
As the region braces for possible retaliation, calls for calm are growing. The United Nations and European Union have urged all sides to avoid further escalation.
For now, the U.S. has placed its forces across the Middle East on alert. Air defense systems have been reinforced, and allied assets have been repositioned. In Israel, military units remain on standby as intelligence agencies evaluate Iran’s next move.
While Trump’s supporters have praised the operation as a decisive blow against nuclear proliferation, critics have raised concerns about the risk of broader conflict. Legal questions have also surfaced over whether the strike required congressional approval.
What began as a standoff between two long-time adversaries now draws in global powers and the world is watching what comes next.
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