U.S. Joins Israel in Strikes on Iranian Nuclear Sites, Escalating Regional Conflict
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The United States launched airstrikes early Sunday on three key sites in Iran, marking a dramatic entry into Israel’s ongoing war against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. The move, ordered by President Donald Trump without congressional approval, significantly heightens the risk of a broader regional conflict.
In a nationally televised address, Trump claimed the strikes had “completely and fully obliterated” Iran’s critical nuclear sites. The U.S. targeted facilities at Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz, employing B-2 stealth bombers to deliver massive GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs — weapons capable of penetrating deep underground before detonating. U.S. submarines also launched about 30 Tomahawk missiles, according to officials speaking anonymously.
While Trump hailed the strikes as a historic success, independent assessments of the damage were not immediately available. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) later confirmed there was no increase in off-site radiation at the targeted locations.
Iran denounced the attacks. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned of “everlasting consequences,” and Tehran called for an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting to hold the U.S. accountable for what it described as “heinous attacks and illegal use of force.” Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that U.S. strikes would bring “irreparable damage.”
As tensions spiked, Israel reported missile launches from Iran, sounding air raid sirens in Jerusalem and urging civilians to seek shelter. Although Iran’s missile barrages have decreased since Israel began targeting launchers, fears of escalation remain. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen also threatened to resume attacks on U.S. vessels in the Red Sea.
The strikes mark the first combat use of the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a bomb designed to destroy fortified underground facilities. The decision to deploy such force follows over a week of Israeli operations aimed at dismantling Iran’s air defenses and missile capabilities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump’s “bold decision,” saying the U.S. had done what no other country could. Israel responded by closing its airspace, while air travel disruptions spread across the region.
Trump, who campaigned on promises to avoid costly foreign conflicts, framed the action as necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. His administration had spent months attempting diplomacy before opting for military intervention.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern, warning that the conflict risks spiraling out of control with “catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world.”
As the region braces for what may come next, all eyes are on how Tehran will respond and whether this marks the start of a broader war.
