Photo: Carlos Barria/UPI
US President Donald Trump has announced a successful military operation, during which US bombers struck three key Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. According to the head of the White House, all the facilities were completely destroyed, and all the aircraft successfully returned to their base.
A statement to the nation
In his address to the nation, Trump said that the purpose of the attack was to destroy Iran’s nuclear capabilities, which have been a threat to the United States, Israel and the entire Middle East for decades. He noted that Iran is the “number one state sponsor of terrorism” and stressed that the strikes were a response to years of terror from Tehran.
Warning of new attacks
The US President called on Iran to immediately agree to peace. In case of refusal, he threatened much larger-scale strikes, which, according to him, would be “much easier” to execute. Trump added that other targets remain in Iran, and most of them can be destroyed in minutes.
Joint actions of the United States and Israel
Trump congratulated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the “outstanding joint success” and thanked the Israeli military for its cooperation. According to him, the operation was an example of unprecedented coordination between the two countries.
Announcement of a press conference in the Pentagon
The US President said that at 8:00 a.m. Washington time (15:00 Kyiv time), a press conference will be held at the Pentagon with the participation of Defence Secretary Pete Hagel and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Kane. At the briefing, details of the military operation will be made public.