Penetrating blows: What the U.S.-Israel campaign in Iran really achieved

B-2 bombers struck Iranian targets directly from a U.S. base, completing the mission without stopovers and spending 37 hours in the air. They were supported by naval groups operating in the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, and the Arabian sea — including two carrier strike groups led by the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) and USS Nimitz (CVN-68), each with its own air wing.

Following a symbolic Iranian missile strike on a U.S. base in Qatar, both sides agreed to a cease-fire. The military operation against Iran lasted 12 days, from June 13-24.

What Israel and the U.S. managed to achieve

Campaigning against nuclear sites in Iran represents a further escalation of the larger regional war that began with Hamas’s attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Israel achieved operational surprise and carried out a “decapitation strike“ within days of starting the operation. Iran’s top military leadership was reportedly eliminated, including armed forces chief of staff Mohammad Bagheri and IRGC commander Hossein Salami.

Iran reportedly lost 11 nuclear scientists and 30 generals in just 12 days. By comparison, Russia has lost slightly more than ten generals during its ongoing war in Ukraine, which is now well into its fourth year.