Iran Nuclear Strike: Initial Assessment Shows Severe Damage, Long-Term Impact Uncertain. Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine confirmed the successful bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites, reporting "extremely severe" damage. While the immediate success of Operation Midnight Hammer is evident, the full extent of the setback to Iran's nuclear program remains unknown. This assessment contrasts with earlier statements from President Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth
Pentagon Press Conference: General Caine Offers Cautious Assessment of Iran Strikes
Following the successful U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine provided a measured assessment, contrasting with earlier claims of complete destruction. While confirming the operation's effectiveness in hitting all three targets and inflicting "extremely severe" damage, General Caine cautioned against prematurely determining the long-term impact on Iran's nuclear program. His comments followed remarks by President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who declared the Iranian nuclear program "obliterated
Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine tempered President Trump's and Secretary Hegseth's claims of a completely obliterated Iranian nuclear program following Saturday night's Operation Midnight Hammer. While Caine confirmed the successful strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites and acknowledged "extremely severe" damage, he cautioned against premature pronouncements on the program's long-term setback, emphasizing the need for further assessment. This contrasted sharply with Trump's declaration of complete destruction and Hegseth's enthusiastic endorsement, highlighting the discrepancy between initial reports and the ongoing uncertainty regarding the extent of the damage inflicted on Iran's nuclear capabilities
Trump Administration's Iran Strike: Assessing the Damage to Nuclear Program. Following a decisive U.S. military operation targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, conflicting reports emerged regarding the extent of damage inflicted. While President Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth declared the Iranian nuclear program "obliterated" and a complete success, Joint Chiefs Chairman General Caine cautioned against premature assessments, emphasizing the need for further evaluation of the operation's long-term impact on Iran's nuclear ambitions. The successful strikes, codenamed "Operation Midnight Hammer," involved 125 aircraft, including B-2 stealth bombers, hitting three key enrichment sites
Operation Midnight Hammer: 125 Aircraft Successfully Strike Iranian Nuclear Sites. Gen. Caine lauded the crews of 125 aircraft, including seven Missouri-based B-2 stealth bombers deploying 14 bunker-buster bombs at Fordow, along with supporting tankers and fighter escorts. No Iranian air defenses appeared to engage the aircraft
He also praised the coordination of aircraft with submarines that launched Tomahawk missiles, with all three targets getting hit over a span of just 25 minutes.
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General Caine lauded the service members, planners, and operators behind the successful Operation Midnight Hammer, praising their exemplary execution and adherence to the highest standards of the U.S. Armed Forces
In his remarks, Hegseth appeared to confirm suspicions that Trump had been dishonest in his claims that he wanted negotiations rather than a military response.
“This is a plan that took months and weeks of positioning and preparation so that we could be ready when the president of the United States called,” Hegseth said. “It took a great deal of precision, involved misdirection and the highest level of operational security.”
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