25.06.2025 00:29

A recent US military operation, codenamed "Operation Midnight Hammer," targeting Iranian nuclear facilities has yielded conflicting reports regarding its effectiveness. While the US government claimed the strikes, using bunker-buster munitions, successfully obliterated Iranian nuclear sites at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan, independent intelligence assessments paint a drastically different picture.


According to a CNN report citing unnamed intelligence sources, the damage inflicted on these key Iranian nuclear installations may prove far less significant than initially touted by US officials. These sources suggest the operational impact might only result in a temporary setback for Iran's nuclear program, delaying its progress by a matter of months at most. This contrasts sharply with the US Defense Secretary's public pronouncements.


Pete Hegseth, the US Defense Secretary, countered these reports, defending the operation's success. His statements, however, lacked specific details to corroborate the US military's initial claims of complete destruction. This discrepancy between official statements and independent intelligence assessments highlights a considerable information gap surrounding the true impact of "Operation Midnight Hammer." The lack of transparency fuels speculation and raises questions about the accuracy of public pronouncements concerning the military operation's objectives and achieved outcomes. The situation underscores the challenges inherent in verifying claims of military success in sensitive geopolitical contexts, relying on information from a variety of sources, including intelligence reports and official government statements.