U.S. Joins War On Iran

The United States has joined the Israeli attack on Iran, bringing the Middle East closer than ever to an all-out war.

Israel launched its attack on Iran on June 13. The initial attack inflicted heavy losses on the Islamic Republic, eroding much of its air defenses. However, it stopped short from achieving its stated goal of crippling the Iranian nuclear program.

Early on June 22, the U.S. joined the Israeli attack, targeting the Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites in Iran.

During the attack, codenamed Operation Midnight Hammer, seven B-2 Spirit stealth strategic bombers flew directly from Whiteman Air Force Base in the state of Missouri then bombed the sites of Fordow and Natanz.

The bombers employed the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a 14-ton precision-guided bunker buster bomb that can penetrate over 60 meters of fortifications. In total, 14 of these massive bunker buster bombs were used.

Meanwhile, the Isfahan site was targeted with more than two dozen BGM-109 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles launched by the Ohio-class guided-missile nuclear submarine USS Georgia, from the Indian Ocean.

While the U.S. attack was very limited in scale, President Donald Trump said that “there are many targets left” in the Islamic Republic, warning that the U.S. will go after those other targets with “precision, speed and skill,” if peace does not come quickly.” Despite the threat, Iran vowed to respond.

In a statement carried by the Iranian state TV, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said that the U.S. should “expect regrettable responses” to its attack. Iran, the Guards said, would “use options beyond the understanding… of the aggressor front, and the aggressors of this land must expect regrettable responses.”

Just a few hours after the U.S. attack, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched some 27 ballistic missiles at Israel, targeting the cities of Tel Aviv, Nes Tziona and Haifa. More than 80 people were wounded.

From its side, Israel launched three waves of strikes on June 22, hitting dozens of targets in Iran, including a base in the area of Yazd where the Khorramshahr medium-range ballistic missiles were allegedly stored.

Early on June 23, Iran carried out its longest recorded attack on Israel, launching close to ten ballistic missiles over more than 40 minutes. Damage to infrastructure was reported.

The goals of the Israeli war are slowly shifting. It started with the aim of crippling Iran’s nuclear program, then moved to neutralizing the offensive capabilities of the Islamic Republic. Now, the next target appears to be regime change. Trump has already entertained the idea, talking about “making Iran great again” just hours after attacking the country.