The B-2 Spirit stealth bombers that executed a major airstrike on Iran’s nuclear facilities have safely returned to Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, marking the end of what the Pentagon described as the most extensive B-2 operational mission in U.S. history.
Seven of the iconic B-2 aircraft landed on Sunday afternoon at the base, home to the 509th Bomb Wing—the U.S. military’s only unit operating the B-2. Onlookers watched as the bombers descended in two groups, their return signaling the conclusion of "Operation Midnight Hammer," a highly coordinated mission targeting key nuclear sites deep within Iranian territory.
Former President Donald Trump publicly praised the operation, commending both the pilots and the precision of the mission. “The GREAT B-2 pilots have just landed, safely, in Missouri. Thank you for a job well done!!!” he posted, adding, “There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!”
According to Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the mission saw the deployment of seven B-2s eastward to strike nuclear sites at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. These stealth bombers were armed with GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs), designed to destroy hardened underground facilities. A total of 14 MOPs were dropped over a 25-minute window at two main targets. Additionally, Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from a U.S. submarine were used to strike the Isfahan site.
In a complex deception maneuver, other B-2s flew westward over the Pacific as decoys, part of a broader strategy that U.S. officials say allowed them to avoid detection. Over 125 U.S. aircraft—including fighter jets, surveillance planes, and aerial refueling tankers—were involved in the operation.
Despite Tehran's public denial of significant damage, satellite images captured the next day revealed widespread destruction. At Fordo, multiple large craters appeared near the underground site. Imagery from Natanz and Isfahan showed extensive damage to buildings associated with uranium enrichment.
While the U.S. described the strike as a "precision blow" to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the region remains tense. Iran has vowed retaliation, and global powers are now watching closely for the next chapter in this escalating conflict.
