Pentagon Releases Footage Defending Iran Strike Success Amid Doubts

Pentagon Defends Iran Strike Success with New Footage

The Pentagon has released new footage and offered a detailed explanation to counter reports suggesting that Operation Midnight Hammer, targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, was ineffective.

Defense Officials Respond to Doubts

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Lt. Gen. Dan Caine presented evidence to refute claims of minimal damage. They emphasized that the mission's success lies in the unique nature of the bunker-busting bombs used, which are designed to penetrate deep underground before detonating, making surface-level assessments misleading.

Gen. Caine clarified that the bombs' primary destructive mechanisms were overpressure and blast, not fragmentation, explaining the lack of visible impact craters.

Criticism of Media Coverage

Hegseth criticized media outlets, specifically CNN, for questioning the operation's success based on preliminary intelligence suggesting limited damage. He also pointed out the media's focus on alleged scandals, diverting attention from significant achievements, such as military recruitment milestones.

Detailed Mission Planning

Caine highlighted the meticulous planning involved, citing the 15-year study of the Fordow nuclear plant by Defense Threat Reduction Agency officers and the precision of the B-2 bomber crews. He affirmed that all bombs deployed at Fordow hit their targets and functioned as intended, detailing how vents in the plant were utilized to deliver the weapons.

The Pentagon further showcased video evidence of bunker-buster bomb testing to underscore the destructive capabilities of the weapons used.

Iranian Response

Contrasting with these claims, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei asserted that the US strikes achieved nothing and that Trump exaggerated their impact. He stated that the reality behind Trump's words indicated a lack of substantial effect from the strikes.