Skies Ablaze: U.S. B-2 Bombers Join Israel’s Strike on Iran’s Nuclear Heart

The Middle East teetered on the brink of a wider war as the United States dramatically entered the escalating Israel-Iran conflict, launching a series of precision airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. In a move that stunned the world, President Donald Trump confirmed that six U.S. B-2 stealth bombers, alongside Navy submarines firing 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles, obliterated key nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan late Saturday night. The strikes, described by Trump as “totally obliterating” Iran’s nuclear ambitions, marked America’s first direct military engagement in the Israel-Iran war, which erupted on June 13 with Israeli airstrikes targeting Tehran’s nuclear and military infrastructure.

The conflict, now in its second week, has claimed over 430 lives in Iran, with 3,500 injured, according to Iranian state media. Israel’s initial campaign aimed to neutralize what it called an “existential threat” posed by Iran’s uranium enrichment program, which Israel and Trump claim was on the verge of producing a nuclear weapon. Iran, however, insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, a claim supported by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi, who recently stated there was no evidence of a “systematic program” for weaponization in Iran.

The U.S. intervention followed weeks of intense diplomatic maneuvering and public posturing. Trump, who had initially distanced himself from Israel’s campaign, faced pressure from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to deploy America’s unmatched “bunker-buster” bombs, capable of penetrating Iran’s deeply fortified Fordow facility. On June 21, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that U.S. involvement would be “very, very dangerous for everyone,” a sentiment echoed by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who threatened “irreparable damage” to American interests. Undeterred, Trump announced the strikes in a fiery Truth Social post, declaring, “ANY RETALIATION BY IRAN AGAINST THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL BE MET WITH FORCE FAR GREATER THAN WHAT WAS WITNESSED TONIGHT.”

The strikes have sparked global outrage and fear of retaliation. Yemen’s Houthis, allied with Iran, condemned the U.S. action and vowed to target American ships in the Red Sea. In Tehran, thousands protested, chanting anti-American slogans and burning U.S. and Israeli flags. Iranian state media reported civilian casualties, including a 13-year-old girl injured in a strike near Tehran, further fueling public anger. Meanwhile, Israel’s airspace remains closed, and the U.S. has begun evacuating American citizens from the region, signaling fears of an Iranian counterattack.

Domestically, Trump’s decision has fractured his base. While allies like Senator Lindsey Graham urged him to “go all in” and finish Iran’s nuclear program, others, including commentator Steve Bannon, criticized the move as a betrayal of Trump’s “America First” promise to avoid Middle East wars. Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called the strikes “grounds for impeachment,” arguing they violated Congressional war powers. A Washington Post poll conducted before the strikes showed more Americans opposed than supported military action against Iran, reflecting deep public wariness after decades of U.S. entanglements in the region.

Analysts warn that the U.S. entry may not guarantee Israel’s goal of permanently crippling Iran’s nuclear program. “Iran’s commitment to technological advancement means you can’t just bomb away their expertise,” said a Middle East expert quoted in The Guardian. Others fear the strikes could push Iran toward regime change, a prospect Trump has publicly rejected but which some Israeli officials reportedly favor. With diplomacy in tatters—European talks with Iran collapsed in Geneva on June 20—the region braces for what could be a prolonged and devastating conflict.

As the world watches, the question looms: will Iran’s promised retaliation ignite an all-out war, or can a narrow window for peace, as Trump hinted in his call for “NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE,” still be salvaged? The skies over the Middle East, for now, remain ablaze with uncertainty.