WASHINGTON, June 22 — U.S. President Donald Trump said American forces carried out “very successful” airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, in what could mark a dramatic escalation in the ongoing Middle East conflict.
“All U.S. planes are now out of Iranian airspace,” Trump announced Saturday, confirming the strikes amid a flurry of regional military activity involving Israel and Iran. The U.S. president is expected to address the nation at 10 p.m. local time.
The Israeli military also launched fresh attacks on Iranian military targets, including nuclear infrastructure, while Iran responded by dispatching dozens of drones toward Israeli territory.
Yoav Gallant, former Israeli defense minister and a vocal supporter of military pressure on Iran, praised the U.S. strikes.
“The world is now a safer place,” Gallant posted on social media, calling it a “bold decision” by the U.S. president. Gallant is currently wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Gaza.
According to sources close to the White House, Trump had been consulting his national security team in the Situation Room over the past several days. He reportedly sought options to cripple Iran’s nuclear capabilities without entangling the United States in a broader regional conflict.
Officials briefed on the deliberations said Trump was advised that a single, limited strike on key nuclear sites could dismantle Iran’s nuclear program while avoiding immediate escalation.
Still, the response from Iranian allies remains uncertain.
“Destroying a nuclear facility here and there is not the end of the war but its beginning,” said Mohamed al-Farah, a senior official of Yemen’s Houthi movement. “The time of hit and run is gone.”
Earlier, the Houthis threatened to target U.S. vessels in the Red Sea if the United States joined Israel’s offensive.
Iranian officials have long warned of retaliation against any U.S. aggression, including potential strikes on U.S. military bases and the closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping lane.
In Washington, Democrats were quick to condemn the president’s actions.
“Trump’s strikes against Iran are not only unconstitutional, but an escalation that risks bringing the U.S. into another endless and deadly war,” said Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) in a statement.
Trump, who shared a social media post claiming the fortified Fordow facility is “gone,” reiterated that “IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR.”
As of late Saturday, no official casualty reports had been released. The international community is bracing for Tehran’s next move.
