PIB Debunks Fake Claims About U.S. Using Indian Airspace in Strikes on Iran
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 23rd June: The Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) Fact Check unit has refuted viral social media claims suggesting that the United States used Indian airspace during its military operation against Iran, dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, the official PIB Fact Check account categorically labelled the claims as “FAKE”, stating, “Indian Airspace was NOT used by the United States during Operation Midnight Hammer.”
The clarification follows a flurry of misinformation online alleging that U.S. bombers flew through Indian airspace en route to strike Iran’s underground nuclear facilities at Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan over the weekend.
To set the record straight, the PIB cited statements made by General Dan Caine, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, who, during a Pentagon briefing, detailed the precise routes taken by the aircraft. “None of the U.S. bombers entered Indian airspace at any point during the operation,” General Caine said, presenting a map of the mission path.
He elaborated that Operation Midnight Hammer was carefully crafted to maintain tactical surprise, involving advanced stealth aircraft, deception tactics, and decoy routes. A group of B-2 Spirit bombers departed directly from the U.S. mainland, with a portion of the strike package feinting westward into the Pacific Ocean to confuse radar tracking. The actual bombers proceeded east with minimal radio communication.
At approximately 2:10 AM Iran time (6:40 PM EST), the lead bombers dropped GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators on their targets. In total, 14 precision-guided munitions were dropped, with Tomahawk missiles rounding off the assault on Isfahan.
U.S. President Donald Trump later hailed the operation as a “very successful strike,” warning Iran of further action if hostilities persisted.
Meanwhile, Iran strongly condemned the U.S. strikes. Its Atomic Energy Organisation described the operation as a “savage aggression” and “a grave violation of international law and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).”
The social media speculation about India’s involvement surfaced shortly after the airstrikes, sparking misinformation and concerns about India’s strategic position. The Indian government has not issued an official statement beyond the PIB’s clarification.
