We devastated the Iranian nuclear program: US Defence Secretary Hegseth

Briefing on the operation, Hegseth was quoted as saying by CNN: "The order we received from our commander in chief was focused, it was powerful, and it was clear."

"We devastated the Iranian nuclear program, but it’s worth noting the operation did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people," he said.

Tension Escalates Further In Middle East

US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced bombing Iran's three nuclear sites and said that with this operation, there would either be peace or more tragedy for Tehran.

The sites are Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.

He thanked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as the Israeli army and said it was teamwork.

In an address to the world and nation from the White House, President Trump said: "A short time ago, the US military carried out massive precision strikes on the three key nuclear facilities in the Iranian regime. Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. Everybody heard those names for years as they built this horribly destructive enterprise. Our objective was the destruction of Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world's number one state sponsor of terror.

"Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier.

Iran-Israel Conflict

The conflict started a week ago when Israel launched airstrikes against Iranian nuclear and military sites, primarily targeting uranium enrichment facilities to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.