US used 7 B-2 bombers against Iran’s nuclear sites: top general

PENTAGON: Seven stealth bombers were used in the US attack against Iranian nuclear sites, which apparently saw little response by Iran’s military, top general Dan Caine said Sunday.

Describing the complex operation, dubbed “Midnight Hammer,” Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine said the “main strike package comprised of 7 B-2 Spirit bombers” flying 18 hours from the US mainland to Iran with multiple aerial refuelings.

“Iran’s fighters did not fly, and it appears that Iran’s surface to air missile systems did not see us throughout the mission. We retained the element of surprise,” Caine added.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has said that there were no big damages following the alleged US strikes on the Iranian nuclear sites today. However, he added that ‘only the entrance and exit areas of the sites were damaged’ of which the state’s sources told Al Jazeera earlier today could be repaired.

China and Russia expressed their concerns over the US strikes on the Iranian nuclear sites in Fardow, Natanz and Isfahan, as Turkiye warned that there was a risk of “catastrophic” consequences.

In this connection, the Chinese foreign ministry condemned the US attack on Iran and on nuclear facilities supervised by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

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The move seriously violates the United Nations Charter and worsens tensions in the Middle East, the ministry said in a statement on its website.

A senior Russian official has said that US President Donald Trump started a new war by attacking Iran that would only strengthen Tehran’s leaders by consolidating society around Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The Kremlin, which has a strategic partnership with Iran and also maintains close links to Israel, had repeatedly cautioned Washington that US strikes on Iran would plunge the entire region into the “abyss”.