Trump defends success of Iran strikes amid backlash from leaked intel report
- The U.S. military conducted an extensive operation targeting Iranian nuclear facilities.
- A leaked intelligence assessment questioned the effectiveness of the strikes, suggesting minimal damage.
- In response, Trump and Hegseth vigorously defended the military's actions and criticized media coverage.
In late June 2025, the United States military launched a significant attack on three Iranian nuclear facilities, with the primary target being the Fordow enrichment site. This operation involved the deployment of 125 aircraft and 12 30,000-pound bunker busters aimed at demolishing Iran's nuclear ambitions. Following these strikes, President Donald Trump announced the success of the mission, claiming that the facilities were 'completely and totally obliterated.' However, a subsequent leaked assessment from the Defense Intelligence Agency concluded that the strikes had only delayed Iran's nuclear program by a few months. The report relied on signals intelligence and satellite imagery to assert the minimal damage caused by the assault. Upon learning of this assessment, Trump criticized the media for downplaying the military’s efforts, labeling news outlets like CNN and The New York Times as 'scum' for their coverage. He and Hegseth argued that such negative reports demeaned the pilots who executed the bombing missions. They contended that the coverage failed to recognize the veterans’ accomplishments while perpetuating an agenda to undermine the perceived success of the military operation. Despite the contrasting opinions regarding the effectiveness of the strikes, military officials, including Hegseth and General Dan Caine, asserted that the assessments reflected preliminary and low-confidence evaluations. Hegseth denounced the media's portrayal, asserting that the attacks had resulted in 'obliterated' conditions at the sites. Ultimately, while the American and Israeli governments claimed substantial damage to Iran’s nuclear capabilities, the official battle damage assessment would take time due to the need for further inspection of the facilities, which was unlikely given the current geopolitical situation. As the situation evolved, the U.S. continued to express readiness for further military action should Iran revive its nuclear ambitions.