Operation “Midnight Hammer”, US attacks Iran. Khamenei’s advisor: “Irreparable consequences for US”

The United States enters the war against Iran alongside Israel.

Shortly before 2:00 AM Italian time on the night between Saturday and Sunday, President Donald Trump announced the attack on three nuclear sites of the Islamic Republic, those of Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan, which would be "destroyed".

LIVE

9:00 PM – NETANYAHU: «OPENING TOWARDS PEACE»

"The action in Iran opens up opportunities that we cannot even imagine. I see a huge expansion of peace agreements. I see collaborations that at the moment seem imaginary, but perhaps we have already understood that they are not. We see a bright future of hope, collaborations and also peace." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this evening in a pre-recorded press conference.

"We will not allow ourselves to be dragged into a war of attrition, but we will not end this historic operation before we have achieved all our objectives," he added.

"We will continue to invest all our energy in eliminating the Iranian threat and defeating Hamas, rescuing all our hostages. Although there will still be difficult days, great and positive days await us, days of unity, strength and, with God's help, days of peace."

For the Israeli prime minister, "Iran has built the axis of evil to strangle us and bring the war to Israeli territory. After breaking the axis, we are moving the war to Iranian territory. Our pilots do what they want in the Iranian skies. We are hitting all the targets, eliminating the commanders. This is a huge change. It opens up opportunities that we cannot even imagine."

8.30 PM – IRANIAN ANGER

"There is no place for America or its bases in this region and the Islamic world. America has attacked the heart of the Islamic world and must expect irreparable consequences, because the Islamic Republic does not tolerate any insult or aggression against it," said Ali Akbar Velayati, an adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. "Any country in the region or elsewhere used by American forces to strike Iran will be considered a legitimate target for our armed forces," he said, quoted by the official IRNA news agency.

19.21 – EXPLOSIONS IN TEHRAN

New explosions were heard in northern Tehran, AFP reports.

6.37 PM – CROSETTO

"I have ordered the operational alert level to be raised at all Italian bases and advanced devices, in coordination with local authorities and our international partners. Personnel protection and operational continuity protocols are active, up to date and ready to face any possible scenario. The safety of Italian military personnel is and remains my absolute priority." Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said in a statement. "Since the day before yesterday, we have initiated preventive measures to strengthen the safety of Italian contingents abroad. Our military personnel are not involved in operations and do not represent a direct target of possible Iranian retaliation. However, as a precaution, we have relocated some assets positioned near US infrastructure or bases, to prevent them from being exposed to collateral damage."

5.12 PM – RUBIO'S REASSURANCES

"There are no military operations against Iran planned at this time," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an interview with CBS.

16.21 – CLASH IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ

The Iranian parliament considers it necessary to close the Strait of Hormuz following the US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. This was stated by Esmail Kosari, a member of the parliamentary committee on national security. This was reported by the Tass agency. The final decision now rests with the Supreme National Security Council. The move would be "suicide" for Iran, said US Vice President JD Vance. "Their entire economy passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Why would they do that? I don't think it makes any sense," added Donald Trump's number two.

AFTER THE ATTACK

TRUMP'S WORDS – "Congratulations to our great American warriors . No other army in the world could have done this," said the Washington leader, in a post on social media, which was then followed by an address to the Nation.

The American B-2 bombers capable of carrying MOP (Motorized Bunker Penetrating Bomb) bombs, which only the American army possesses, would have gone into action.

Six “bunker bluster” bombs were dropped on the Fordow site, while around thirty Tomahawk missiles were reportedly launched at the other targets, US media reported.

"This is a historic moment for the United States of America, Israel and the world," Trump said. Adding: "Our goal was to nullify Tehran's enrichment capabilities and its nuclear threat. It was a spectacular military success ." The president also warned Iran: "At this point , either there will be peace or there will be a tragedy like never before." Then the invitation to return to the negotiating table.

IRAN'S REACTION – For its part, Tehran itself, through Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi , condemned the American bombings as "outrageous" and affirmed that his country has the right to defend its sovereignty. "What happened will have eternal consequences," he warned.

A channel affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guards – the Pasdaran – instead announced that «the United States will have to bear the consequences of the attack on Iran. Their bases in the Middle East will be reduced to ashes».

NETANYAHU – From Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared in a televised speech: “With President Trump, we have achieved unprecedented results together. With full operational coordination between the Israel Defense Forces and the US military, the United States attacked the three Iranian nuclear sites. This program threatened our survival and was also a risk to the peace of the entire world.”

MISSILES ON ISRAEL – A few hours after the US attack, the Iranian response was not long in coming: a new rain of missiles was launched against the cities of the Jewish state, including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa, where dozens of wounded and buildings razed to the ground were reported.

ITALY – Palazzo Chigi announced that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni "is following the crisis in Iran with the utmost attention and has called a video conference meeting with the ministers involved, with Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano and with the heads of intelligence."

THE POPE'S APPEAL – "Today more than ever, humanity cries out and invokes peace : it is a cry that demands responsibility and reason and must not be suffocated by the roar of weapons and rhetorical words that incite conflict," said Pope Leo XIV during the Angelus. Adding: " Stop the tragedy of war before it becomes an irreparable chasm."

MAXIMUM ALERT IN AMERICAN BASES IN ITALY – Maximum alert is on at American bases in Italy after the US attack in Iran last night. From Aviano to Sigonella, according to what we learn, attention is at its maximum. The devices put in place to guarantee the safety of the military have been strengthened.

RUSSIA'S CONDEMNATION – The Russian Foreign Ministry "strongly condemns" the US attacks on Iran that can aggravate the ongoing escalation and "further undermine regional and global security". "The irresponsible decision to subject the territory of a sovereign state to missile and bomb attacks, regardless of the arguments put forward, grossly violates international law and UN Security Council resolutions", the ministry says.

NUCLEAR THREAT – The attacks against Iran “have dealt a severe blow to the credibility of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the verification and monitoring system of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is based on it”. This is what the Russian Foreign Ministry says, calling for “a timely, professional and honest reaction from the leadership of the Agency, without evasions and attempts to hide behind political ‘equidistance’”. The UN Security Council “must also react”, adds Moscow, and for “the confrontational actions of the United States and Israel to be collectively rejected”.

MACRON – French President Emmanuel Macron continued his telephone conversations today following the US attack on three nuclear sites in Iran tonight, calling Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Elysée sources reported. To Pezeshkian, Macron reiterated his "call for the immediate release of the two French hostages, for a de-escalation and for the resumption of diplomatic negotiations."

OPERATION “MIDNIGHT HAMMER” – “Operation Midnight Hammer”, this is the name of the US operation that hit Iranian nuclear sites, “is not an unlimited mission, Trump has assigned a clear and targeted mission to hit Iran’s nuclear capabilities”. This was stated by the head of the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, in a press conference, adding that “anything can happen in a conflict but the scope was intentionally limited”. America “is not looking for war”, he clarified. “We have worked closely and are continuously consulting with allies in the region”, he continued. The Trump administration “complied with the notification requirements of the War Powers Act” and informed members of Congress of the attacks immediately “after the planes had taken off safely”, the Secretary of Defense then said.

RUBIO'S REASSURANCES – "At this time, there are no military operations planned against Iran." This was stated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in an interview with CBS.

CLASH ON THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ – The Iranian Parliament believes it is necessary to close the Strait of Hormuz following the US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. This was stated by Esmail Kosari, a member of the parliamentary committee on national security. This was reported by the Tass agency. The final decision now rests with the Supreme National Security Council. The move would be “suicide” for Iran, said US Vice President JD Vance. “Their entire economy passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Why would they do that? I don’t think it makes any sense,” added Donald Trump’s number two.

CROSETTO – "I have ordered the raising of the operational alert level at all Italian bases and advanced devices, in coordination with local authorities and our international partners. The personnel protection and operational continuity protocols are active, updated and ready to face any possible scenario. The safety of Italian military personnel is and remains my absolute priority". This was stated in a note by the Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto. "Since the day before yesterday, we have initiated preventive measures to strengthen the safety of contingents

Italians abroad. Our military are not involved in the

operations and do not represent a direct objective of possible

Iranian retaliation. However, as a precaution, we have

relocated some assets positioned in proximity to

US infrastructure or bases, to prevent them from being able to

be exposed to collateral damage."

- UPDATE IN PROGRESS –

(Unioneonline/lf)