Operation Midnight Hammer has led to a 12-day ceasefire between Iran and Israel. Several B-2 stealth bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri were involved in the mission to drop bombs last weekend on three key Iran weapons sites.
West-central Missouri Congressman Mark Alford’s district covers Whiteman Air Force Base. Alford, a Republican, applauded the military’s execution of the mission.
“This has been in the planning for some years – the ability to take the B2 stealth bombers and decapitate the nuclear ambitions of terrorist state Iran, and it successfully happen,” said Alford.
After the U.S. strikes, Iran responded by launching several missiles towards a U.S. base in Qatar, doing little damage. Then Iran agreed to a 12-day ceasefire with Israel.
Alford said the ball is now in Iran’s court.
West-central Missouri Congressman Mark Alford (Photo taken during livestream of June 2025 House Committee on Small Business hearing in Washington, D.C.)
“This is now up to the Ayatollah whether he wants peace or chaos, whether he wants prosperity or poverty, whether he wants to become part of a normalized relations there in the Mideast, or if he wants to continue to be a terrorist,” he said.
According to Alford, former Missouri Democratic Congressman Ike Skelton was instrumental in the B-2s being stationed at the west-central Missouri base.
“Because the Berlin Wall fell and the USSR collapsed, the Cold War was over. We didn’t see a need to finish out that contract for 132 (B-2s). We only ended up building 21 of those. Had we gone ahead and built 132 of the B2 stealth bombers, we would not have the aggression I think on the world stage that we are seeing now,” he said.
Alford said the U.S. contract for the next generation of stealth bombers will build 100 to 200 of the aircraft. He serves on the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, in key roles overseeing military spending.
The U.S. unleashing bombs on Iran’s key weapons sites could spark retaliation. Homeland security leaders have informed Missouri and the 49 other states of the potential backlash. Gov. Mike Kehoe said threats could include cyber attacks and retaliatory violence by extremists.
St. Louis County Congresswoman Ann Wagner encourages Missourians to be alert and vigilant. She sits on the U.S. House Intelligence Committee.
Missouri Congresswoman Ann Wagner questions U.S. Treasury Secretary during May 8th, 2025, hearing. (Photo taken from livestream of U.S. House Financial Services Committee hearing in Washington, D.C.)
“Keep your head on swivel,” said Wagner. “I don’t think we’re under any greater threat than anyone else. Know this, that we are going to fight back hard if they decide to touch any American either on U.S. soil or elsewhere.”
Wagner, a Republican from Ballwin, said the Biden Administration allowed nearly 750 Iranians to stay in the U.S. after illegally entering. She said Iran has threatened U.S. citizens and assets throughout the world and have killed American soldiers.
“I think there was obviously clear nuclear proliferation and enrichment going on,” said Wagner. “And no one, no one wants a reckless regime, a terrorist regime, with this terrorist proxies…Hamas, the Houthis and Hezbollah, to have nuclear armaments.”
She praised Missouri’s B-2 stealth bomber pilots and the U.S. military for carrying out the operation.
“This was something that was done…a surgical decision that was aimed at saving American lives,” said Wagner. “We’ve got over 40,000 troops and assets over in the region and over 700,000 Americans that are living in Israel, too.”
Wagner served as U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg from 2005 to 2009. Her son is a U.S. Army veteran.
Missouri Congressman Sam Graves (Photo taken from livestream during July 2022 U.S. House Infrastructure Committee hearing in Washington, D.C.)
Northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves fully supports President Trump’s military action against Iran. Graves told Missourinet affiliate KFEQ in St. Joseph that Trump is justified in helping Israel strike against Iran.
“They’re a state sponsor of terrorism, whether that’s helping Hamas or helping Hezbollah or helping other groups when it comes to IEDs and targeting Americans and going after Israel. We just simply can’t allow that to happen,” said Graves.
Graves, a Republican from Tarkio, asserts Trump did not have to consult with Congress, because it was a military action, targeting specific strategic sites, not an act of war. He is a member of the U.S. House Committee on Armed Services.
He said many presidents have taken the opportunity to order military strikes against strategic targets.
“I’ve had this argument before you know. And for instance, with President Bush, you know, back when we struck Iraq and it’s the same thing, it’s well within his authority to do this. And we are not at war with Iran,” said Graves.
He also pointed out Trump had warned Iran prior to ordering with military strikes.
Still, Graves said he understands that attacks create anxiety among Americans…
“Well, I know it’s a troubling time for folks. But, you know, I think we will come through this just fine. And again, we can’t allow a terrorist state to have nuclear weapons, militarized nuclear weapons, and this is what this is all about.”
Graves points out Iran rebuffed Trump’s efforts to negotiate prior to Israel’s military action against it.
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