Washington, D.C.: U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday launched a scathing attack on congressional Democrats, accusing them of leaking classified intelligence about recent American airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Trump demanded legal action against those responsible, while also lambasting the media for its reporting on the leaked document.
“The Democrats are the ones who leaked the information on the PERFECT FLIGHT to the Nuclear Sites in Iran. They should be prosecuted,” Trump posted on Truth Social, without providing evidence to support his claim.
The controversy centers on a preliminary intelligence assessment by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) that cast doubt on the effectiveness of the U.S. strikes—codenamed Operation Midnight Hammer—suggesting they may not have significantly crippled Iran’s nuclear capabilities, contrary to official claims. The AFP first reported the leak.
The assessment’s leak drew fierce criticism from top defense officials and Trump himself, who argued that the report was both incomplete and irresponsibly publicized.
White House Tightens Info Flow, Faces Backlash
In response to the breach, the White House imposed stricter controls on classified intelligence shared with Congress, a move that sparked backlash from Democratic lawmakers who claim the new restrictions undermine transparency and oversight.
“President Donald Trump created the conditions to end the war, decimating — choose your word — obliterating, destroying Iran’s nuclear capabilities,” said senior Trump ally Pete Hegseth during a Pentagon press conference.
Hegseth blasted news outlets like CNN, MSNBC, and The New York Times for what he described as “fawning coverage of a preliminary assessment,” and claimed the leak was orchestrated to discredit what the administration views as a landmark military success.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt went a step further, accusing CNN reporter Natasha Bertrand of being “used by people who dislike Donald Trump in this government to push fake and false narratives.”
CNN issued a statement defending Bertrand and reaffirming confidence in her reporting.
Details of Operation Midnight Hammer
According to official accounts, Operation Midnight Hammer was carried out over the previous weekend. The operation involved:
- B-2 stealth bombers dropping over a dozen GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs on Iran’s underground nuclear sites in Fordow and Natanz
- A simultaneous Tomahawk cruise missile strike launched from a U.S. Navy submarine targeting the Isfahan nuclear facility
These U.S. strikes followed a June 13 Israeli air campaign that targeted Iranian nuclear scientists, key military leaders, and several enrichment facilities.
While Tehran continues to claim its nuclear program is peaceful, Washington and its allies have long suspected ambitions to develop atomic weapons.
Trump, who had pulled the U.S. out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal during his first term, initially pursued a diplomatic alternative. However, after several rounds of failed negotiations and rising tensions, he ordered military action.
The former president has since repeatedly described the strikes as a “spectacular military success,” asserting they have “obliterated” key elements of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.