Inside Trump's attack on Iran nuke bases with 'bunker buster' bombs and missiles

The US has said it used six bunker-buster bombs and submarine missiles to "obliterate" Iran’snuclear bases in a move it called a "spectacular military success". President Donald Trump announced on social media that the attack included a strike on the heavily protected Fordow enrichment plant, buried deep under a mountain in the Iranian city of Qom.

The other sites blitzed during the early hours of Sunday morning were at Natanz and Isfahan. Taking to Truth Social, Trump confirmed the attack, saying: "We have completed our very successful attack on the three nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow.

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"All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter," he added.

The major US operation is said to have targeted Iran’s nuclear sites using some of its most powerful weapons. According to Trump, six 30,000lb bunker-busting bombs - called GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators - were used to hit Iran's most protected facility, the US President told Fox News.

The bombs were dropped by six B-2 bombers, which reportedly flew from Missouri and stayed in the air for 37 hours, the New York Times reports. They had to refuel multiple times mid-air so they wouldn't have to land, and were chosen because the Fordow nuclear site, buried 300 feet underground and surrounded by steel, is difficult to destroy.

Trump said Israel couldn't hit the site alone, but that the US could - and now has. Each missile, about 20 feet long with a 5,000lb warhead, was designed to pierce deep into the ground before detonating. Iran, however, claimed it knew the attack was coming and had already removed anything of value from Fordow. Still, the US also hit other nuclear sites - Natanz and Isfahan.

Thirty Tomahawk missiles were reportedly fired from submarines stationed 400 miles away. These are long-range weapons, launched from sea or land, that can travel over 1,000 miles. The US has a naval base nearby in Bahrain.

Natanz is home to Iran's largest uranium enrichment plant, which plays a key role in producing weapons-grade material. One of the B-2s also dropped two bunker busters on the site, the New York Times reported. Isfahan, another key site, is believed to store uranium that’s almost weapons-grade. Both facilities had already been targeted in earlier Israeli strikes.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, confirmed that Natanz was badly damaged in the earlier Israeli assault. He said: "The above-ground part of the pilot fuel enrichment plant, where Iran was producing uranium enriched up to 60% U-235, has been destroyed." Uranium-235 is a key material used for both nuclear power and weapons.

Iran retaliated with a series of missile and drone strikes in Israel and warned of "everlasting" consequences after the US attack. Foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said the strikes "will have everlasting consequences" and that his country "reserves all options" to retaliate.

Keir Starmer meanwhile said Tehran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and responded to the attack, and called Iran’s nuclear programme "a grave threat to international security." He said: "Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat.

"The situation in the Middle East remains volatile and stability in the region is a priority. We call on Iran to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis."