US and Israel Launch Coordinated Strikes on Iran's Nuclear Facilities

The United States and Israel launched a surprise attack on three of Iran's main nuclear sites, including the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, Natanz Nuclear Facility, and Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center, in a bid to cripple the country's nuclear program. The strikes, which involved US stealth bombers and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles, were carried out in the early hours of Sunday, with Iran's authorities reporting no irreversible damage or contamination.

Key Takeaways:

• The attack was the largest B-2 combat operation in US history, involving over 125 aircraft, including stealth bombers, fighter jets, and tankers.
• The strikes used so-called "bunker buster" bombs, including the 30,000-pound Massive Ordnance Penetrator, the world's most powerful bunker-busting bomb.
• Iran's nuclear agency reported no signs of contamination or risk to residents near the targeted sites, with radiation monitoring showing stable safety levels.
• The US and Israel have accused Iran of developing nuclear weapons, although Iran insists its program is peaceful and aimed at energy and medical research.
• This marks a sharp escalation in the region, following over 21 months of Israeli military action in Gaza.

Statistics:

• Over 125 US aircraft participated in the operation.
• The attack used a total of 30 B-2 stealth bombers, 7 of which launched from the US mainland.
• Iran's nuclear agency reported no contamination or risk to residents near the targeted sites.
• The strikes came as Israel and Iran have been engaged in a week of aerial combat, with over 400 killed in Iran and 24 casualties reported in Israel.
• Six Iranian scientists, two of whom were prominent nuclear scientists, were killed in Israeli strikes.

Sources:

• [Al Jazeera] article "US strikes Iran's nuclear facilities with 'bunker busters'" (no date given)
• [Al Jazeera] article "Can divided European powers help end Israel's war on Iran?" (June 21, 2025)
• [IAEA] statement by Director-General Grossi on the situation in Iran (no date given)
• [Atomic Energy Organization of Iran] social media post on radiation monitoring and field assessments (no date given)