Amid a flurry of social media speculation, the Indian government on Sunday strongly refuted claims that the United States used Indian airspace to launch military strikes against Iran under "Operation Midnight Hammer." The operation, which targeted Iran's key nuclear facilities — Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — has triggered global debate, but officials in New Delhi were quick to clarify India’s non-involvement.
The Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) Fact Check unit issued an official statement labelling the viral claims as "FAKE," asserting that "Indian Airspace was NOT used by the United States during Operation Midnight Hammer." The clarification came after several social media handles alleged that US stealth bombers crossed Indian territory en route to Iran.
US Routes Avoided Indian Airspace Completely
Citing a press briefing by General Dan Caine, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Indian government emphasized that the American military had followed an alternate path for its long-range strike mission. General Caine even presented a detailed operational map during his Pentagon address, showing that no flight path intersected Indian airspace at any point during the mission.
“Speculative claims are misleading and entirely false. No US aircraft crossed into Indian airspace at any time during the execution of Operation Midnight Hammer,” the PIB noted in its post on X (formerly Twitter).
Operation Midnight Hammer: Inside the Strike
According to the Pentagon’s official briefing, the United States deployed a fleet of B-2 Spirit stealth bombers to deliver 14 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs on Fordow and Natanz — Iran's deeply buried nuclear installations. Additionally, Tomahawk cruise missiles were launched to neutralize the Isfahan site. The entire strike window lasted just under 30 minutes, from 6:40 PM to 7:05 PM EST on Saturday night (early Sunday in Iran).
General Caine detailed that multiple deception tactics were used to throw off Iranian radar systems, including fake signals and decoy B-2 aircraft deployed in the Pacific. The actual strike package, involving seven bombers and coordinated support assets, proceeded through alternate corridors without broadcasting flight positions.
India Maintains Neutrality Amid Tensions
India’s swift clarification underlines its diplomatic neutrality in the escalating US-Iran-Israel conflict. Officials say the government is closely monitoring the situation and remains in contact with international partners to ensure regional stability.
“This is not a conflict we are part of, and claims to the contrary are false and irresponsible,” said a senior official on condition of anonymity.
Public Reactions and Global Response
The PIB’s clarification was welcomed by analysts who say disinformation during global military escalations can undermine national interests. “India has been clear about its non-alignment in such conflicts. The PIB's prompt intervention sets the record straight before misinformation spreads further,” said foreign affairs expert Rajiv Sharma.
