United States Central Command said Sunday that U.S. B-2 stealth bombers struck hardened ballistic missile facilities in Iran overnight, employing 2,000-pound bombs against what officials described as fortified military targets.
The joint strikes targeted ballistic missile sites and IRGC headquarters, confirming the deaths of Khamenei, his son Mojtaba, dozens of commanders, and around 200 others, including an interim leader. U.S. Central Command detailed the use of 2,000-pound munitions on underground facilities, while President Trump called it cutting off the ‘head of the snake’ after years of Iran’s proxy attacks that killed over 1,000 Americans.
Iran retaliated with missile launches and activated decentralized defenses amid hacked state TV broadcasts urging uprising, as exiles celebrated and oil prices jumped 13%. With three U.S. soldiers among the dead, the region braces for regime collapse or intensified resistance.
The command announced the operation in an official statement, declaring, “No nation should ever doubt America’s resolve.”
The strike comes amid ongoing U.S. military efforts to degrade Iran’s missile infrastructure following escalating regional tensions and recent hostilities involving Iranian military assets. Targeting hardened ballistic missile facilities indicates a focus on limiting Iran’s ability to launch or sustain missile operations considered a threat to regional stability and deployed forces.
According to United States Central Command, the operation was conducted during nighttime hours using B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, a platform designed for penetrating heavily defended airspace and delivering precision-guided munitions against protected targets. Officials confirmed that the aircraft were armed with 2,000-pound bombs, commonly used against reinforced underground or hardened military infrastructure.
The command stated in its announcement, “No nation should ever doubt America’s resolve,” underscoring the messaging accompanying the strike while providing limited operational details about the number of aircraft involved or the exact locations targeted.
The B-2 Spirit is one of the United States Air Force’s long-range stealth bombers, capable of flying intercontinental missions while avoiding detection by advanced air defense systems. Its design allows it to conduct direct attacks against targets that are difficult or impossible for non-stealth aircraft to reach without extensive suppression of enemy air defenses.
The aircraft can carry a mix of precision-guided weapons tailored to target hardness and mission objectives. Heavy bombs weighing approximately 2,000 pounds are typically employed against reinforced structures such as missile bunkers, storage sites, and underground facilities. The bomber’s payload flexibility also allows it to strike multiple targets during a single sortie.
Defense analyst Tyler Rogoway wrote prior to the reported strike that B-2 bombers were likely to appear in forthcoming operations because they can conduct direct attacks on key targets “in a way no other platform can.” He noted that such missions could involve Massive Ordnance Penetrator weapons as well as Joint Direct Attack Munitions used against less fortified targets.
Rogoway also explained that a single B-2 sortie can deliver large numbers of precision weapons, stating that one aircraft can carry up to 80 500-pound JDAMs capable of destroying extensive infrastructure during a single pass. He added that stealth bombers are typically employed at night and benefit from degraded air defenses and disrupted command-and-control networks following earlier phases of an air campaign.
The use of B-2 aircraft aligns with established U.S. airpower doctrine, in which stealth bombers are introduced once operational conditions allow deep strikes against high-value targets. Their ability to operate independently over long distances reduces reliance on forward basing while allowing rapid engagement of time-sensitive objectives.
Ballistic missile facilities are often hardened or buried to survive conventional air attacks, making them priority targets for aircraft capable of penetrating defended airspace and delivering precision strikes with heavy ordnance. Attacks on such infrastructure are intended to limit missile launch capacity and disrupt logistical support networks tied to missile operations.
Previous U.S. operations involving B-2 bombers have focused on targets requiring high survivability and precision, including hardened command facilities and protected weapons sites. The aircraft’s ability to strike multiple objectives during a single mission allows commanders to concentrate effects within a narrow operational window.
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