Did America Use India’s Airspace For ‘Op Midnight Hammer’ To Hit Iran? Here’s What GoI Has to Say

New Delhi: Amid circulating reports that the US used India’s airspace to launch aircraft against Iran, the Indian government on Sunday dismissed the claims as “fake.”

Dismissing widespread social media claims, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) said that Indian airspace was never granted to the US for conducting its ‘Operation Midnight Hammer.’

“Several social media accounts have claimed that Indian Airspace was used by the United States to launch aircraft against Iran during Operation #MidnightHammer. #PIBFactCheck This claim is FAKE. Indian Airspace was NOT used by the US during Operation #MidnightHammer.”

The statement added that during an official press briefing, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, had clearly explained the actual flight route used by US aircraft during the operation, confirming that it did not involve Indian airspace.

The US airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—were carried out under the codename Operation Midnight Hammer and involved more than 125 aircraft, according to General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

At a press briefing on Sunday, Caine said the operation included seven B-2 Spirit bombers that dropped over a dozen 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs on the Fordow and Natanz facilities. Tomahawk missiles were also launched at Isfahan.

To maintain tactical surprise, a part of the aircraft package flew toward the Pacific as a decoy. The strikes began at 6:40 p.m. ET, and the bombers exited Iranian airspace by 7:05 p.m. ET. Caine said the aircraft flew from a base in Missouri, and this marked the longest B-2 flight since 2001.

In total, the operation used 14 bunker-buster bombs, over two dozen Tomahawk missiles, and involved refuelling and escort aircraft.