WANA (Jun 24) – The U.S. launched an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities using B-52 bombers, and in retaliation, Iran targeted the U.S. military base at Al-Udeid in Qatar with ballistic missiles.

 

Six key points about the U.S.-Iran military confrontation:

 

1. Many analysts claimed this was the first time the U.S. had launched a military attack on Iran, naming it “Operation Midnight Hammer.”

 

That’s not accurate. The U.S. previously attacked Iranian oil facilities in the Persian Gulf during “Operation Praying Mantis” in 1987–1988, later shot down an Iranian passenger plane over the Gulf, killing 296 civilians, and even worse, provided Saddam Hussein with chemical weapon materials and technology. Saddam used them in over 30 chemical attacks that killed and injured tens of thousands of Iranians.

 

2. Iran stated that its missile attack on the Al-Udeid base was proportional to the scale of the U.S. bombing of its nuclear sites.

 

The message to Washington is clear: this game can end in a 1-1 draw.

A new satellite image of the Fordow underground facility shows holes that are likely the result of U.S. bunker-buster missile strikes /WANA News Agency

A new satellite image of the Fordow underground facility shows holes that are likely the result of U.S. bunker-buster missile strikes /WANA News Agency

3. Iran informed both Qatar and the U.S. in advance about its operation to avoid human casualties. The U.S., however, gave Iran no such warning, potentially causing Iranian deaths. From a humanitarian and ethical standpoint, Iran acted more responsibly than the U.S.

 

4. The U.S. carried out a surprise attack, while Iran warned both the U.S. and Qatar beforehand. Iran’s transparency signals military courage—because in warfare, operations are usually kept secret from the enemy.

 

5. While the full extent of damages on both sides remains unclear, it’s likely the financial damage to Iran’s nuclear facilities is greater than the damage inflicted on the U.S. base.

 

6. However, the reputational blow to the U.S. is more severe. As the world’s leading superpower, having its most important military base in the Middle East hit is a major embarrassment—something no other country has dared to do until now.

 

7. Ultimately, Iran’s restraint—avoiding American casualties—has given President Trump a golden opportunity to:

 

a. End the military confrontation with Iran. If hostilities continue, it’s unlikely Iran will give prior warnings in the future, and the next strike could result in significant U.S. casualties.

 

b. Return to diplomacy. A nuclear agreement within the framework of the NPT and respect for international law is still attainable.

 

c. Recognize that unlike Iran, Israel is not capable of sustaining a prolonged war. Events over the past ten days have shown that Tel Aviv and Washington miscalculated: surprise attacks will not collapse the Iranian government, and now they themselves are being surprised by Iran. If this continues, it will turn into a war of attrition—something Israel cannot afford.