Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, the Indian government has firmly refuted social media claims suggesting that the United States used Indian airspace to launch airstrikes on Iran as part of Operation Midnight Hammer.
The military campaign, conducted in the early hours of Sunday, targeted Iran’s critical nuclear enrichment facilities in Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the strikes severely damaged Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, and the operation was carried out under direct orders from President Donald Trump. He described the mission as precise and well-coordinated, with over 125 military aircraft, including B-2 stealth bombers, deploying 14 GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs and more than 30 Tomahawk missiles.
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) addressed the rumors in a post on X :
“Several social media accounts have claimed that Indian Airspace was used by the United States to launch aircrafts against Iran during Operation Midnight Hammer. This claim is fake. Indian airspace was not used by the United States during Operation Midnight Hammer.”
The PIB further stated that General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, clarified the flight path used by the American jets.
— @PIBFactCheck
President Trump hailed the strikes as a “spectacular military success”, stating that the objective was to permanently disable Iran’s nuclear enrichment capability and neutralize what he termed “the world’s number one state sponsor of terror.”
US Vice President J.D. Vance added that while the administration remains open to diplomacy, it is fully prepared for any Iranian retaliation.
“If the Iranians respond by attacking American troops, it would be a catastrophic mistake,” he warned.
Hegseth echoed the sentiment, issuing a stern warning:
“This is not the previous administration. President Trump has made it clear—there will be no nukes. If Iran retaliates, the response will be far more powerful than what the world witnessed last night.”
