Donald Trump’s airstrikes on Iran spark comparisons to 'Top Gun: Maverick': 'Art imitates life'

WASHINGTON, DC: Social media is ablaze with comparisons between Hollywood and real-world conflict, as President Donald Trump's daring airstrike on Iran, dubbed "Operation Midnight Hammer," draws striking parallels to the blockbuster 'Top Gun: Maverick'. 

On Saturday, June 21, the US targeted three Iranian nuclear sites, including the fortified Fordow enrichment facility buried deep in the mountains near Qom. 

The mission's cinematic intensity has captivated the internet, with users pointing out uncanny similarities to the Tom Cruise-starrer 'Top Gun: Maverick', in which an elite team strikes an unnamed mountainous nation’s underground nuclear site armed with outdated American fighter jets.

Social media erupts with comparisons between Donald Trump's Iran bombing and 'Top Gun: Maverick'

Donald Trump’s "Operation Midnight Hammer" saw seven B-2 bombers unleash 14 GBU-57 bunker-busting bombs, with fighter jets sweeping the skies ahead to clear the way.

Now, social media is buzzing with comparisons to 'Top Gun: Maverick,' as users point out the uncanny resemblance between the high-stakes mission and the film’s climactic strike, and they’re having a field day with the parallels.

An X (formerly Twitter) user wrote, "Watching Top Gun: Maverick now so will be ready for all the briefings on Monday," attaching a GIF of Tom Cruise from the movie saying, "This is your captain speaking."

Another wrote, "Art imitates life. Top Gun: Maverick is on cable tv this evening. Now we pray for peace."

"Hearing how the bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities, including Fordow, went down reminds me of 'Top Gun: Maverick,'" a person stated. 

"Ok what else in Top Gun 2 was real?" someone else questioned. 

One more mentioned, "Irony. Top Gun Maverick is on Paramount Network right now as the strike occured."

"This Iran bombing raid of the nuclear sites included dropping bunker busters into the facilities’ AIR VENTS. Did someone watch Top Gun Maverick during planning?! God, bring your peace," another tweet read. 

"I bet the mission was carried out with four Super Hornets led by a 60 year old O-6 and his best friend’s son who was full of teen angst about not having to go to the Naval Academy even though he went on to become a TOPGUN grad ten years later," another user stated. 

US launches major attack on Iranian nuclear sites as tensions escalate

On Saturday, the US carried out a high-stakes military operation targeting three nuclear facilities in Iran, intensifying the ongoing conflict that has erupted between Israel and Iran in recent days, as per ABC News.

The full consequences of the strike remain uncertain, though President Donald Trump quickly labeled the mission a "very successful" effort. Behind closed doors, Trump and his top advisers had spent several days deliberating the risks of military engagement versus restraint.

The decision to move forward drew swift political backlash, with both Democrats and some Republicans criticizing the strike within minutes of its announcement.

Speaking from the Pentagon on Sunday morning, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hailed the operation as both devastating to Iran’s nuclear program and “brilliantly executed.” He praised Trump’s leadership, stating, “When this president speaks, the world should listen."

Air Force General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, offered further details on the operation. He revealed that seven B-2 stealth bombers, departing from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, undertook the longest B-2 mission since 2001. The aircraft crossed the Atlantic and Mediterranean, refueling multiple times midair and coordinating with escort fighter jets en route to the Middle East.

The bombers dropped a total of 14 Massive Ordnance Penetrators, commonly referred to as "bunker busters," on high-value nuclear targets located in Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. The first strikes occurred at 2 am, according to Caine.

In addition to the aerial assault, a US Navy submarine participated by launching over two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles at strategic infrastructure sites in Isfahan. Remarkably, Iran did not attempt to counter the strike with either fighter jets or surface-to-air defenses.

“Throughout the mission, we maintained the element of surprise,” Caine noted. “A. “We are currently unaware of any shots fired at the US strike package on the way in.”

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