US military now briefing troops that its strike on Iran "will likely result in counterstrikes on US bases and facilities" in the Middle East, and "likely activate Iran and other foreign terrorist organizations cells abroad including the US to conduct strikes against US.
President Donald Trump announced Saturday that the U.S. military had carried out targeted airstrikes on three nuclear-related sites in Iran, marking a dramatic escalation as the United States formally joins Israel’s military campaign to dismantle Tehran’s nuclear infrastructure. The move comes despite warnings from Iran of severe retaliation—an escalation that risks igniting a broader regional conflict.
Trump confirmed the strikes in a post on social media:
“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home.”
The operation reportedly involved U.S. stealth bombers and the use of 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs—munitions that only American aircraft are capable of deploying—intended to penetrate Iran’s heavily fortified underground facilities. The Fordow and Natanz sites are central to Iran’s uranium enrichment efforts, while Esfahan houses sensitive research and development infrastructure.
U.S. and Israeli officials have acknowledged that Israeli strikes over the past week have systematically degraded Iran’s air defenses and missile systems. The addition of American airpower was seen as critical to targeting the deeply buried nuclear facilities that Israeli weapons alone might not destroy.
While the military objective may have been achieved, the political cost remains uncertain. The strikes represent a sharp departure from Trump’s previous foreign policy stance, which emphasized avoiding entanglement in overseas conflicts. His 2016 campaign repeatedly criticized American interventionism—making the current decision especially politically charged.
Tensions Mount as Regional Fallout Looms
Earlier on Saturday, Iran’s foreign minister warned that direct U.S. involvement would mark a dangerous turning point in the conflict.
“Any U.S. military action would be very, very dangerous for everyone,” he said in televised remarks.
In a sign of the widening scope of the conflict, Yemen’s Houthi rebels—aligned with Tehran—threatened to resume attacks on American vessels in the Red Sea if Washington deepens its military engagement alongside Israel. The Houthis had paused these operations in May following an informal understanding with the U.S., but now say that deal could be nullified.
Meanwhile, the U.S. embassy in Israel confirmed it had begun "assisted departure flights" for American citizens—its first since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attacks that triggered the war in Gaza.
Israel Steps Up Strikes, Hits Iranian Nuclear Infrastructure
Israel’s military also confirmed its forces struck a major Iranian nuclear research site overnight, claiming it killed three senior commanders in the process. Smoke was seen rising near a mountainous region of Esfahan, where Iranian officials later confirmed damage to a centrifuge production facility.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the strike caused “extensive damage” but did not result in radioactive leakage or contamination.
In response, Iran fired another wave of drones and missiles toward Israeli territory, though Israeli officials said there was no major damage. One senior Israeli military officer, speaking anonymously per protocol, said that over half of Iran’s known launch capabilities had now been destroyed:
“We’re making it harder for them to fire toward Israel,” the official noted.
The situation remains fluid, with all eyes now on how Iran responds—and whether the region plunges further into open, protracted warfare.
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