Summary in seconds: the June 2025 “12-day war” was the most direct Israel–Iran clash in decades and highlighted unprecedented U.S.–Israel military integration. Israel dismantled Iran’s air defenses to open corridors for Operation Midnight Hammer, where the U.S. used deception, Tomahawks, and B-2 bombers to strike key nuclear sites. Though damage was heavy, Iran’s program may endure. The war’s lasting impact was establishing a new paradigm of fully coordinated U.S.–Israel operations with major implications for regional deterrence and stability.
The brief but intense “12-day war” of June 2025 marked the most direct confrontation between Israel and Iran in decades. While the war’s immediate trigger was a series of Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, its defining feature was the unprecedented operational coordination between Israel and the United States. What began as a regional clash quickly escalated into a joint campaign that combined Israeli air power with America’s most advanced strategic capabilities.
Israel Opens the Airspace
From the first days of the war, Israel launched an extensive air campaign targeting Iranian air defenses, radar systems, and military infrastructure. According to Israeli officials, these strikes were designed not only to blunt Iran’s retaliatory capacity but also to “clear the skies” for the next phase. By degrading Iranian surface-to-air missile batteries and command centers, Israel created corridors that would later allow US bombers to enter Iranian airspace with minimal risk.
This tactical sequencing reflected deliberate coordination. Reports from The Times of Israel confirmed that Israel’s political leadership had secured US approval before initiating its strikes. Analysts described this as a turning point: rather than acting in parallel, Washington and Jerusalem were now operating as joint partners in an integrated battle plan.
The American Hammer Falls
On the ninth day of the conflict, President Donald Trump authorized Operation Midnight Hammer, the most ambitious US strike on Iran to date. The operation relied heavily on deception and precise timing.
- Decoy Flights1: Two B-2 bombers visibly departed west toward the Pacific, drawing media and public attention. This misdirection convinced Tehran that a potential US strike was still days away.
- The Real Strike Package2: Meanwhile, another group of B-2s flew east with minimal communications, escorted by US fighter jets. As they approached Iran, American submarines in the region launched more than two dozen Tomahawk missiles at Iranian command sites and nuclear infrastructure.
- The Bombing Run: Between 6:40 and 7:00 p.m. Eastern time, the B-2s dropped a barrage of massive ordnance penetrator bombs—12 on the deeply buried Fordow facility and two on Natanz3. Minutes later, Tomahawks struck Isfahan, leaving Iran’s most guarded nuclear installations damaged.
It was the largest operational B-2 mission in US history, exceeded only in duration by missions flown immediately after 9/11.
A Coordinated Endgame
While Israel’s early sorties enabled American entry from the eastern front, the final stages of the war also showcased diplomatic coordination. Washington worked closely with Qatar to negotiate a ceasefire, which was publicly announced by President Trump. This alignment demonstrated that US–Israel cooperation extended beyond military tactics to political strategy and war termination.
Did It Work?
The immediate military achievements were significant: Iranian facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan sustained visible damage. Yet the strategic impact remains uncertain. Experts note that Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium is mobile and may have been relocated before the strike. If its centrifuges survived, Tehran could potentially rebuild its program relatively quickly.
Still, the message of the 12-day war was clear. For the first time, Israel and the United States demonstrated direct, operational coordination against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Israel’s air campaign opened the door, and America’s bombers delivered the hammer blow. Together, they revealed a new playbook for confronting shared threats in the Middle East.
Conclusion: A New Security Paradigm
The 12-day war underscored that future conflicts in the Middle East will likely be shaped by joint operational strategies rather than isolated national actions. For Israel, the war demonstrated that its ability to neutralize regional threats depends on leveraging American reach and resources. For the United States, it highlighted the value of Israel’s intelligence, precision targeting, and regional positioning in achieving broader strategic objectives.
Whether the strikes permanently set back Iran’s nuclear ambitions remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the conflict has established a new precedent: US–Israel coordination is no longer limited to diplomacy or intelligence sharing—it now includes synchronized military campaigns with global implications for deterrence, escalation, and stability in the region.
Notes and References
1. The Decoy B-2 Bombers
Early Saturday (June 21) morning, two B-2 bombers left their base in Missouri and began heading west toward the Pacific. Flight trackers quickly picked up clues about the trip, including a pilot contact over Salt Lake City. Refueling operations followed out of Oklahoma, then California, then Hawaii. A defense official confirmed the movement to The Journal, and news outlets soon began reporting on the B-2s’ westward flight.
Newscasters reported that B-2 stealth bombers had been moved to the Pacific. Those multiple B-2 stealth bombers were in fact headed toward Guam. Reports mentioned that there were indications the bombers could be staging at either Diego Garcia or Guam, giving Iran the impression that a potential strike could still be days away.
* Martinez, Luis; Flaherty, Anne; and Hutchinson, Bill. “How Bunker-buster and B-2 Stealth Bombers Struck at the Heart of Iran’s Nuclear Program.” ABC News, 22 June 2025.
Washington Post – US Iran bombing nuclear damage
* Altman, Howard. “B-2 Strikes on Iran: What We Know About Operation Midnight Hammer.” The War Zone, 22 June 2025.
The War Zone – Operation Midnight Hammer
* Holliday, Shelby. “The Tactics Behind Trump’s Bombing of Iran’s Nuclear Facilities.” Wall Street Journal, 23 June 2025.
2. The Attack
As that was happening, another group of B-2s left Whiteman and headed east with minimal communications. According to the Pentagon, around 5:00 p.m. Eastern on Saturday (June 21)—12:30 a.m. Sunday in Iran—a submarine in the Middle East fired the first shots, launching more than two dozen Tomahawk missiles. These would not land until after the last bombs were dropped.
Around 6:00 p.m., the strike package entered Iranian airspace. According to General Dan Caine4, decoy aircraft were sent ahead of the B-2s, flying at high altitude and high speed to throw off Iran’s air defenses. As the strike package approached Fordow and Natanz, U.S. fighter jets engaged potential Iranian threats. Then, from about 6:40 to 7:00 p.m. Eastern, the B-2s dropped massive bunker-buster bombs on their targets. Twelve Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs were dropped on Fordow, while two were dropped on Natanz, according to a U.S. official. Shortly afterward, Tomahawk missiles struck Isfahan, and the strike package exited Iranian airspace to return home.
(Ibid.)
3. In One Night
In one night, the U.S. used three-quarters of its believed stockpile of this type of bunker-buster bomb.
(Ibid.)
4. General Dan Caine
General Dan Caine is the 22nd Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest-ranking military officer in the United States.