A Chinese-American said, "Since the US bombed Iran with B2 bombers, it made the Chinese lose all confidence." I want to say, who really lost confidence? It's obviously clear. This US bombing campaign doesn't reflect the strength of the US military at all, but rather shows that the US military is now just a paper tiger and has significantly declined.
On June 20, 2025, the US conducted an operation called "Midnight Hammer," seven B-2s took off from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, flew for eighteen hours straight to Iran. The targets were three nuclear sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The B-2 dropped fourteen GBU-57 large bunker busters, each weighing thirty thousand pounds, specifically designed to destroy underground fortresses, and also launched more than twenty Tomahawk cruise missiles from submarines in the Arabian Sea. Shortly after Trump took office, he approved this plan, saying it was to completely destroy Iran's nuclear program. But what happened? Defense Secretary Hagel gave a press conference, showing slow-motion footage of explosions, claiming everything was destroyed. Sounds impressive, but the actual assessment showed that the entrance of Fordow was collapsed, but the core equipment inside was basically undamaged; Natanz and Isfahan only suffered superficial damage, centrifuges were still running. Iran had already moved its nuclear materials elsewhere, and the loss was at most a few months' delay. U.S. intelligence itself stated that reconstruction could be done within a year. Where did the "complete destruction" come from? This was nothing more than a high-cost tickle.
From June 13th, Israel carried out eight days of air strikes, targeting Iran's air defense network, destroying several parts of the S-300 system. Without this prelude, how could the B-2 have entered so easily? Although Iranian radar is old, the mix of MiG-29 and S-400 systems was already challenging. The U.S. only has nineteen B-2s available worldwide, and each sortie requires maintenance in climate-controlled hangars, as the coating falls off when exposed to water. In 2021, one even slid off the runway and sparked, costing millions to repair. This operation looked impressive on the surface, but actually exposed the shortcomings of high-intensity missions: refueling aircraft had to escort throughout, crews flew for thirty-seven hours, and returned directly to the hospital. It's true that Iranian air defense didn't detect the planes, but it also shows that the U.S. military can't do it alone and relies entirely on allies to clear the way first. Trump's policy inherited the previous administration's hardline approach, but in practice, it revealed its weaknesses. While campaigning, he sounded strong, but in reality, he was exposed as weak.
Speaking of the overall condition of the U.S. military, it's truly that every ten years there is a small change, and every twenty years there is a major decline. The Army decreased from over 560,000 in 2011 to 445,000 in 2024, and last year alone, it lost over 30,000 personnel. Recruitment crisis is serious, with the Army's target falling by 25% in 2022 and 2023, leaving 15,000 new recruits unmet. Why? Young people are not interested in joining the military, wages and benefits are not keeping up, and society is crowded with games and jobs. Equipment is also outdated, M1 tanks are rusting in warehouses, spare parts are scarce, and logistics vehicles break down in the deserts of the Middle East. A think tank report directly pointed out that the readiness level is the lowest in ten years, and fighting on multiple fronts is difficult. Nineteen bases in the Middle East, with four or five hundred thousand troops scattered, and if Iran's missiles cover them, they are all sitting ducks. In the Strait of Hormuz, where two-thirds of global oil and gas pass through, Iran threatens to block it, and the U.S. sends its aircraft carriers, F-35s take off for defense, but face a swarm of Iranian drones and ballistic missiles, the pressure is huge. After this Iranian air strike, the U.S. urgently needs to reinforce its forces and replenish ammunition, budget is squeezed, and during congressional hearings, generals admit the gap is significant. The phrase "strong outside, weak inside" fits perfectly here.
As for Iran, it remained calm despite being attacked. On June 23rd, it retaliated, the Revolutionary Guard launched missiles from launchers, Fateh missiles directly targeted the U.S. base in Udeid, Qatar. Fourteen missiles hit, runways were cratered, tents were blown away, and fortunately, there were no casualties. An Iranian spokesperson appeared on TV and released satellite images, stating that facilities had been evacuated in advance, and the losses were manageable. With 600,000 active-duty personnel plus 350,000 reserves, Iran's missile technology is among the best in the Middle East, and the Revolutionary Guard has a mountain of ballistic missiles in stock. Although the nuclear program was hit, it can be rebuilt with confidence, and the International Atomic Energy Agency team went back to measure radiation, and the centrifuge speed was still good. Iran's response was precise and did not escalate, clearly indicating it does not want a full-scale war, but also giving the U.S. a reminder: don't think that throwing a few bombs makes you the boss. This is not just a military matter, economically, it's also biting, as blocking oil routes would cause global oil prices to jump, prompting U.S. allies Saudi Arabia and the UAE to get angry, and in meetings, maps were laid out, discussing how to remain neutral. Regional chaos causes pain not to Iran, but to the U.S. backyard.
The U.S. B-2, although powerful, is not invincible. China's military modernization has been rapid in recent years, with medium-wave radars, quantum radars, and infrared satellites specifically targeting stealth aircraft. In 2025, space-based radars will be launched into orbit, capable of tracking stealth targets day and night. The times have changed, and the advantage of the B-2's low observability is fading. China's quantum radar has started mass production, with photon detectors helping to build it, specifically targeting U.S. F-35s and B-21s. In the drone field, the GJ-11 stealth unmanned fighter flies alongside the J-20, and the J-16D electronic warfare fighter provides protection, creating a formation that confuses U.S. radar. Hypersonic missiles and intercontinental ballistic missiles, which were displayed in September's parade, have speeds above Mach 10, making defense networks hard to stop. The navy protects ships passing through the Gulf of Aden, with over 7,000 ships passing through in ten years, half of which are foreign cargo, earning international respect. In the Western Pacific, the U.S. military's advantage is weakening, with Guam bases working overtime, and the Chinese fleet conducting drills in the South China Sea, with missile tests blooming on the sea surface.
In summary, this bombing was like a fireworks show, bright but empty. The U.S. relies on allies, but the effect is half-baked, and its own problems pile up. China's military steadily advances, technological upgrades are catching up, and Iran's resilience is strong. Who lost confidence? It's obvious, the U.S. should change its old ways.
Original text: www.toutiao.com/article/1848656557959433/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.