From Missouri To Fordow: B-2s Fly 37 Hours Nonstop To Strike Iran

Photo: Reuters

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States launched a high-precision airstrike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure on June 22, deploying B-2 Spirit stealth bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri in a nonstop 37-hour mission, The New York Times reported, citing a senior U.S. official.

The operation marked one of the most significant direct uses of U.S. airpower against Iran’s nuclear program in recent years. The bombers, supported by multiple aerial refueling operations, struck three key Iranian sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. The Pentagon confirmed the use of the B-2s in the mission.

According to the official, six GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs were dropped on Fordow, a heavily fortified underground facility regarded as one of Iran’s most secure nuclear installations. Roughly 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles, launched from U.S. naval assets in the region, targeted Natanz and Esfahan.

U.S. military planners had earlier moved B-2 bombers to Guam, signaling preparation for long-range operations. These bombers are uniquely capable of carrying the 30,000-pound GBU-57, designed to destroy deeply buried and hardened targets.