This week, the Pentagon lifted the veil on one of its most secretive operations: a precision strike against Iran’s underground nuclear facility at Fordow, carried out by B-2 Spirit stealth bombers that flew “under the radar”—literally—on a 36-hour mission spanning three continents. In a rare press briefing, Defense Secretary Mark Esper detailed how the mission remained hidden from global air-traffic monitors and satellite trackers until the bombs hit, underscoring advances in stealth and logistics.
@DeptofDefense “Our B-2s struck Fordow with pinpoint accuracy—no collateral damage, no detection, no leaks. This is modern deterrence.” via X
According to the Pentagon’s official release, two B-2s departed Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, refueled en route by KC-135 tankers over the North Atlantic, landed briefly at RAF Fairford in the U.K., then penetrated Middle Eastern airspace under radio silence. The aircraft transmitted no electronic emissions and were invisible to Iranian radar, thanks to their low-observable coatings and cutting-edge electronic warfare suites.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Brown told reporters that “the B-2s flew a path never before attempted—over the Arctic, then down through the Persian Gulf—keeping us off public flight logs and ensuring operational security.” His comments, featured in a Reuters analysis, highlight the lengths necessary to keep the mission clandestine.
@AirForceChief “We demonstrated truly global strike—no one saw them coming until after the bombs hit.” via X
Images released under strict security protocols show crews swabbing the B-2’s exhaust nozzles with flame-retardant gel and technicians applying radar-absorbent material to the landing gear. A behind-the-scenes video, sanitized to obscure classified components, provides a glimpse of the meticulous preparations at Whiteman, as documented on the Air Force’s public affairs site.
Gen. Brown emphasized that no civilian air traffic was disrupted. “We coordinated with allied air-traffic control agencies to temporarily secure air corridors,” he said, noting that deconfliction with commercial flights was handled through prearranged protocols rather than public NOTAMs.
@AirForce “Stealth isn’t just about technology—it’s also about planning and partnerships.” via X
Defense News reporter Lara Chen, present at the briefing, noted that officials stressed “no U.S. casualties, zero civilian losses, and minimal environmental impact”—claims backed by satellite imagery analysis from the Planet Labs constellation showing only targeted damage to centrifuge halls and storage vaults.
The Pentagon repeatedly called the operation “surgical.” Secretary Esper asserted that “we struck only what was necessary to degrade Iran’s breakout capability by at least five to seven years,” referencing an internal IAEA report on Iran’s enrichment timeline.
Several lawmakers have praised the mission’s precision. Senate Armed Services Chair Jack Reed (D-RI) tweeted: “This is what responsible deterrence looks like—surgical, limited, and effective.” via X
@SenJackReed “Surgical strikes bought us diplomacy time—kudos to our men and women in uniform.” via X
Critics, however, cautioned against overreliance on airpower. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) warned in a floor speech that “secret missions risk unintended escalation if Iran discovers methods and counters them.” He cited a Council on Foreign Relations study arguing that stealth advantages erode over time.
On the diplomatic front, the State Department’s spokesperson noted that “off-the-record briefings” had been provided to key U.S. partners, including the U.K., France, and Israel, to maintain coalition solidarity and prevent leaks. Those governments reportedly expressed admiration for the operation’s stealth but stressed the need for renewed negotiations under the JCPOA framework.
@StateDept “Our allies recognize that diplomacy is strengthened when backed by credible capability.” via X
Technology analysts highlight that this mission represents a major evolution in global strike doctrine. A RAND Corporation brief describes the combination of stealth, logistics, and electronic warfare as “the future of strategic deterrence.”
Looking ahead, Pentagon officials hinted that similar missions could become a routine option, stating that “any future threats to U.S. security will face the same level of precision and surprise.” Yet they also acknowledged the high cost—each B-2 flight can exceed $200,000 in operating expenses when factoring in tankers and support aircraft.
As details continue to emerge, one thing is clear: by demonstrating the ability to strike anywhere on the globe without warning, the United States has set a new benchmark for covert operations—one that will shape adversary calculations and deterrence strategies for years to come.
