B-2 Bombers Return to Missouri After U.S. Stealth Strike on Iranian Nuclear Sites

KNOB NOSTER, Mo. — After a high-stakes, high-tech strike halfway across the globe, the unmistakable silhouette of America’s most advanced warplanes cut across the skies of Missouri on Sunday afternoon.

Seven B-2 Spirit stealth bombers touched down at Whiteman Air Force Base, their home base nestled in the Midwest, about 70 miles southeast of Kansas City. The aircraft had just completed a daring and meticulously coordinated strike on Iranian nuclear facilities — a mission the Pentagon hopes will mark a decisive blow in a growing conflict.

Operation Midnight Hammer: A Stealth Attack by Land, Air, and Sea

The strike, dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer, unfolded early Sunday morning (Iran local time) and was anything but routine. U.S. officials revealed the mission involved decoys, deception flights, long-range aerial refueling, and support from both fighter jets and naval forces.

One group of B-2s took off and headed west — a strategic move meant to trick Iranian defense systems. Meanwhile, a second formation of seven B-2s slipped eastward under radar, bound for Iran.

Backed by a web of support aircraft, the B-2s unleashed 14 “bunker-buster” bombs, each weighing 30,000 pounds, on two fortified underground uranium enrichment sites. Simultaneously, U.S. submarines launched dozens of cruise missiles at additional strategic targets in Iran.

U.S.: “Devastating Precision Strike” — Iran: “No Significant Damage”

Despite the massive scale and coordination of the strike, U.S. officials say Iran failed to detect the incoming aircraft — and never even got a shot off.

Military leaders described the attack as a “precision strike” that dealt a crippling blow to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, though they acknowledged that full damage assessments were still underway.

Iran, however, has denied any serious damage to its facilities and has vowed to retaliate.

A Rare Glimpse at America’s Stealth Arsenal

On Sunday, under sunny but gusty skies, an AP reporter watched as the B-2s returned to base in stages — first in a group of four, circling before descending from the north, followed minutes later by a final group of three. The aircraft belong to the 509th Bomb Wing, the U.S. military’s only B-2 Spirit unit.

The sight of the bat-winged bombers coming home after such a bold and consequential mission offered a dramatic reminder of the B-2’s unique role: global reach, precision delivery, and the ability to strike without being seen.