### **Quick Rundown: Operation Midnight Hammer & WW3 Risk**

**Context:**

* Between June 13–21, 2025, Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and missile infrastructure.
* Iran responded with drone and missile attacks—**all aimed at Israel**, not the U.S.
* The conflict, while intense, was still **regional**.

* On **June 21 at 11:47pm (Iran time)**, the U.S., under orders from President Trump, **launched "Operation Midnight Hammer"**.
* The U.S. struck three major Iranian nuclear facilities: **Fordow**, **Natanz**, and **Isfahan**.
* The strikes were **unprovoked from a U.S. perspective** — Iran had not attacked any U.S. targets prior.

### U.S. Justification:

* Trump claimed the strikes were:

* To "support Israel"
* To prevent Iran from restarting uranium enrichment (which Iran denied)
* To deter further escalation by showing U.S. strength
* Critics, including former Pentagon officials, said it was **a political move**, not a strategic necessity.

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### Consequences:

* On **June 22**, Iran retaliated by launching missiles at **Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar**, a U.S. military site.

* No casualties, but it marked a **direct Iranian strike on U.S. forces**.
* On **June 23**, a ceasefire was negotiated.

* Violations occurred within hours, with both sides continuing low-level strikes.

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### Why This Could Be Seen as the Start of WW3:

* The U.S. entered an active conflict **without being attacked**.
* Bombing another sovereign country’s nuclear facilities is **extremely escalatory**, especially without UN approval.
* It brought in global powers:

* **Russia and China condemned** the U.S. action.
* Tensions rose over the **Strait of Hormuz**, threatening global oil flow.
* A single miscalculation or retaliation could have triggered **a multi-nation conflict**.
TL;DR:

* Trump ordered a surprise strike on Iran’s nuclear sites on June 21.
* Iran had not attacked the U.S. at that point.