WhatsappAt 2:10 in the morning Iran time, US B-2 Bombers dropped six 30,000 pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker busters on the Fordow, Iran’s nuclear fortress, buried into a mountain outside of Qom. The Natanz and Isfahan sites were also hit with 30 Tomahawk missiles launched by American submarines some 400 miles away.
“A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “All planes are now outside of Iran air space [and are]… safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this.”
The destruction of Iran’s nuclear program or at least a sizable part of it means that the US has now entered the Israel-Iran war, putting US troops in the region at risk. While Iran has yet to retaliate against the US, it launched a retaliatory barrage at Israel in the morning.
One missile hit an old-age home that had been recently evacuated.
Netanyahu released the following statement after the strike:
“Congratulations, President Trump. Your bold decision to target Iran’s nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history,” Netanyahu said.
“In Operation Rising Lion, Israel has done truly amazing things. But in tonight’s action against Iran’s nuclear facilities, America has been truly unsurpassed. It has done what no other country on earth could do,” he said. “History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world’s most dangerous regime, the world’s most dangerous weapons.”
President Trump for his part gave a speech about the operation at 10pm last night at Eastern Standard Time. He said the following:
“For 40 years, Iran has been saying death to America, death to Israel. They have been killing our people, blowing off their arms, blowing off their legs with roadside bombs. That was their specialty. We lost over a thousand people and hundreds of thousands throughout the Middle East and around the world have died as a direct result of their hate. In particular, so many were killed by their general, Qasem Soleimani. I decided a long time ago that I would not let this happen. It will not continue.”
“I want to thank and congratulate Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. We worked as a team like perhaps no team has ever worked before, and we’ve gone a long way to erasing this horrible threat to Israel,” Trump said.
“I want to thank the Israeli military for the wonderful job they’ve done and most importantly I want to congratulate the great American patriots who flew those magnificent machines tonight and all of the United States military on an operation the likes of which the world has not seen in many many decades. Hopefully we will no longer need their services in this capacity.”
SO WHAT’S NEXT?
Iran’s nuclear program has all but been wiped out and its air defenses and much of its ballistic missile launchers have been severely reduced. However, Iran is no Iraq and with shipments of more ballistic missiles coming from China and a martyrdom complex there is every reason to assume the regime will retaliate against the US regardless if that means the regime will be destroyed or not.
Five possible reactions to US involvement:
- Closing the Straight of Hormuz – 25% of the world’s energy flows through this waterway which if closed would force the USA to intervene to reopen it. If they did do this, it would turn Arab oil producers openly against Iran.
- Bombing US bases in Iraq, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other areas – This is considered to be the most likely scenario.
- Increased ballistic missile attacks on Israel – This is a forgone conclusion. However, as Israel continues to knock out missile launchers, this threat will not continue for long - even if China continues to supply Iran with thousands of missiles.
- Increased likelihood of terror attacks on US soil – For years there has been warnings of Iranian sleeper cells in the US. If Iran is going to use them, the assumption would be now.
- Dirty Bomb – While Iran’s program appears to be nearly wiped out, Iran has already enriched enough weapons grade uranium and many believe that is being hidden elsewhere. Is it enough for a dirty bomb? That is the fear of many.
Whatever Iran’s reaction will be, the world will find out soon. However, one thing is clear we are now living in a completely different Middle East - one that sees Israel as the over all regional power and an Arab Sunni world given a real chance to finally make peace with the Jewish State if they choose it.
