India, June 22 -- A formation of American B-2 stealth bombers flew undetected for 18 hours from Missouri to Iranian airspace, carrying out one of the most extensive strikes ever conducted by the United States on Iranian nuclear infrastructure, the Pentagon said on Sunday.

Operation "Midnight Hammer" began on Saturday with a diversion. One group of B-2 bombers flew toward Guam, which analysts thought signalled a possible strike. But the real mission involved seven B-2 bombers flying east quietly, refuelling in the air, and avoiding Iran's air defences.

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Iran's main nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan were hit in a coordinated US assault that involved cruise missile launches fr...