Iran's Nuclear Sites: Under the cover of darkness on June 21, the U.S. military conducted massive, precision strikes on the three key nuclear facilities in Iran: Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan, President Donald Trump announced.

“Our objective was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of terror.”

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine said the operation included seven B-2 Spirit bombers, which proceeded eastward with minimal communications. Throughout the 18-hour flight into the target area, the aircraft completed multiple in-flight refuelings. Once over land, the B-2s linked up with escort and support aircraft.

Iran's fighters did not fly, and it appears that Iran's surface to air missile systems did not detect U.S. aircraft, reported General Caine.

“Throughout the mission, we retained the element of surprise. In total, U.S. forces employed approximately 75 precision guided weapons during this operation. This included. . . fourteen 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators, marking the first ever operational use of this weapon.”

President Trump called the strikes “a spectacular military success,” and urged Iran’s leaders to make peace.

For 40 years, Iran has been saying, death to America, death to Israel, noted President Trump. “We lost over 1,000 people and hundreds of thousands throughout the Middle East, and around the world have died as a direct result of their hate in particular.”

At this point said President Trump, “There will be either peace, or there will be tragedy for Iran.”

“Remember, there are many targets left. . . .But if peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed, and skill. Most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes.”

“Our forces remain on high alert and are fully postured to respond to any Iranian retaliation or proxy attacks, which would be an incredibly poor choice,” warned General Caine. “We will defend ourselves; the safety of our service members and civilians remains our highest priority.”

“What happens next will depend on what” the Iranian leadership does, said Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “They want to negotiate, we’re ready to negotiate. They want to. . .do things that are dangerous, we have responses available that are devastating.” VOA/SP