Report from Catherine Herridge:
“Pentagon Assessment Operation Midnight Hammer : Planned Over 15 Years
Chairman Joint Chiefs GEN Dan Caine
Strike at Fordow exploited two ventilation shafts
Days before, Iran tried to cover shafts with concrete cap
First US weapon removed concrete cap
Weapons 2, 3, 4, and 5 entered main shaft, traveling at 1000 feet per second to Iran’s underground mission center
Weapon 6 “flex” capability
The “kill” mechanism was the combination of blast and overpressure on the target
Officer from DTRA (Defense Threat Reduction Agency) began the mission 15 years ago when the underground target was identified and the officer recognized the US did not have a weapon to counter it.
Years of highly classified (likely special access program) development and testing followed.
Caine said he talked with the two DTRA officers who “lived this single target” for years.
Post mission, they described hearts “ filled with pride to be a part of this.”
Defense Secretary HEGSETH
Leaked DIA record was preliminary assessment and low confidence. He accused some media of amplifying the report to create doubt, search for scandal, division and to “cheer against Trump”
NOTE: In the hierarchy of intel reports, a preliminary assessment with low confidence would not carry much weight. It’s an early snapshot that concedes the picture will likely change as more intelligence is developed.
IRAN RETALIATION
44 service members defended the Al Udeid base from Iran retaliatory strikes
Ranged in age from 28 year old captain to 21 year old private
Had “2 minutes to succeed or fail”
Single largest Patriot engagement in US history
GEN Caine “they absolutely crushed it”
BOMBER CREWS
Active Duty Air Force and Guard
said goodbye to their families Friday, not knowing the outcome, when they would return.
On Sunday, teams returned, tears flowed with families, said it “felt like the Super Bowl””