The Pentagon has released dramatic video footage of B-2 Stealth bombers taking off from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, as part of the U.S. military’s covert ‘Operation Midnight Hammer’ targeting Iran’s underground nuclear facilities.
Pentagon video shows U.S. Air Force B-2 bombers preparing for "Operation Midnight Hammer."
— ABC News (@ABC) June 23, 2025
The top-secret U.S. precision attack on Iran's nuclear facilities was the largest strike using B2 bombers in history and was the longest flight involving the fleet since 2001, Pentagon… pic.twitter.com/mPRLxpsLRs
The bombers departed at exactly 12:01 am and completed a 37-hour nonstop mission, covering approximately 11,400 kilometers round-trip. These highly advanced jets conducted precision strikes on key Iranian nuclear sites in Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz, before returning safely to base. The long-range operation required multiple mid-air refueling sessions.
Valued at nearly $2 billion each, the B-2s are among the most sophisticated aircraft in the U.S. military arsenal. The footage shows the jets taxiing from the hangar and taking off under cover of darkness. It later cuts to their return during daylight, following the successful bombing run.
During the mission, the B-2s deployed the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) — a massive bunker buster bomb that weighs around 13 tons (13,000 kg) and is capable of penetrating 200 feet of earth or 60 feet of reinforced concrete. Each B-2 bomber can carry two MOPs, which are specifically designed to destroy hardened underground facilities like those used by Iran for nuclear enrichment.
The U.S. Air Force’s strategic bombing campaign was part of a broader military operation amid growing tensions in the Middle East. As Israel faces off with Iran, Washington reaffirmed its support for its ally by launching the surprise strikes.
Branded ‘Operation Midnight Hammer’, the coordinated assault involved an extensive arsenal. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described it as “an incredible and overwhelming success”.
Air Force General Dan Caine disclosed that 75 precision-guided munitions, including 14 GBU-57 bombs, were dropped. The operation also involved over 125 military aircraft and more than two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles, which were launched from a U.S. submarine at approximately 2 am Iran time.
The initial wave of airstrikes began with the B-2s hitting the Fordow nuclear facility, followed by coordinated strikes on the other sites. Between 6:40 pm and 7:05 pm EDT, all three major nuclear locations were reportedly targeted and hit.
After executing the mission, the stealth bombers successfully returned to Whiteman Air Force Base on the morning of June 22, concluding one of the most significant American air operations in recent years.