Watch Webinar – Operation Midnight Hammer: U.S. Strikes Against Iran’s Nuclear Sites
On June 21, the U.S. military conducted strikes against Iran’s three primary nuclear sites, dropping GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs–the munition’s first ever use in combat–on Iran’s deeply-buried Fordow facility and reportedly Iran’s Natanz facility, and launching dozens of Tomahawk cruise missiles against Iran’s Esfahan and Natanz facilities.
That night, President Donald Trump told the American people he ordered the strikes to end the “nuclear threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of terrorism.” Trump announced the nuclear sites were “completely and totally obliterated” and threatened future attacks on a “far greater scale” against the Iranian regime if it does not capitulate and make peace.
JINSA hosted an emergency webinar analyzing the monumental American decision to strike Iran and what comes next. The webinar featured JINSA Distinguished Fellow IDF MG (ret.) Yaakov Amidror, Julian & Jenny Josephson Senior Vice President for Israeli Affairs IDF MG (ret.) Yaacov Ayish, JINSA Distinguished Fellow IDF MG (ret.) Amikam Norkin, JINSA Randi & Charles Wax Senior Fellow John Hannah, and JINSA Distinguished Fellow Gen Charles “Chuck” Wald, USAF (ret.).
The webinar was moderated by JINSA President and CEO Michael Makovsky, PhD.
IDF MG (ret.) Yaakov Amidror IDF MG (ret.) Yaakov Amidror is a JINSA Distinguished Fellow. MG Amidror was formerly the National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of Israel, as well as the head of the National Security Council, from 2011-2013. During his 36-year career in the IDF, MG Amidror served as Commander of IDF Military Colleges, Military Secretary for the Minister of Defense, Director of the Intelligence Analysis Division, and as Intelligence Officer for the Northern Command. |
IDF MG (ret.) Yaacov Ayish IDF MG (ret.) Yaacov Ayish is the Julian and Jenny Josephson Senior Vice President for Israeli Affairs at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA). MG Ayish served in the IDF for 36 years and retired in 2016, concluding an accomplished career during which he attained the rank of Major General. Throughout his distinguished service, he served in core and operational command positions in the IDF ground forces and in senior command and managerial positions in the IDF General Staff. |
IDF MG (ret.) Amikam Norkin IDF MG (ret.) Amikam Norkin joined JINSA as a Distinguished Fellow in February 2023. MG Norkin is the Former Commander of the Israeli Air Force and a former member of the Israel Defense Forces General Staff. As the IAF’s Commander, he was responsible for all of the IDF’s aviation operations, including all air and space defense and offense activities, turning the IAF to the IDF’s leading strategic arm and leading this critical organization in a rapidly changing environment with various multiple challenges. |
Gen Charles “Chuck” Wald, USAF (ret.) Gen (ret.) Charles Wald is a JINSA Distinguished Fellow and former Deputy Commander of U.S. European Command. Gen Wald has also served as the Director of Strategic Planning and Policy at USAF Headquarters, Chief of USAF Combat Terrorism Center, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations at the Pentagon. |
John Hannah John Hannah is the Randi & Charles Wax Senior Fellow at JINSA’s Gemunder Center for Defense and Strategy. John served in senior foreign policy positions for both Democratic and Republican administrations, including as former Vice President Dick Cheney’s National Security Advisor from 2005-2009 and as Vice President Cheney’s Deputy National Security Advisor for the Middle East from 2001-2005. Hannah received his B.A. from Duke University, his J.D. from the Yale Law School, and did graduate work in international relations at Stanford University. |
Michael Makovsky, PhD Michael Makovsky, PhD is President and CEO of JINSA, which he joined in 2013. A U.S. national security expert, he has worked extensively on U.S. policy toward Iran’s nuclear program, Israel, and the broader Middle East, as well as the intersection of international energy markets and politics with U.S. national security. |