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The government on Sunday dismissed social media claims that suggested Indian airspace was used by the United States to launch aircraft during Operation Midnight Hammer against Iran. 

The Press Information Bureau of India firmly refuted the claims and even shared a video of a press briefing addressed by Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, US, wherein he outlined the actual route taken by the aircraft, which proves Indian airspace was not involved.

"Several social media accounts have claimed that Indian Airspace was used by the United States to launch aircrafts against Iran during Operation #MidnightHammer. This claim is FAKE. Indian Airspace was NOT used by the United States during Operation #MidnightHammer," a PIB post on X noted.

Several social media accounts have claimed that Indian Airspace was used by the United States to launch aircrafts against Iran during Operation #MidnightHammer #PIBFactCheck

❌ This claim is FAKE

❌Indian Airspace was NOT used by the United States during Operation… pic.twitter.com/x28NSkUzEh

— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) June 22, 2025

The claims surfaced after the US bombed three major nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, bringing itself into the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict and triggering fears of a wider regional conflict.

During a briefing on the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairperson General Dan Caine said that a large B-2 strike package comprised of bombers launched from the continental United States at midnight Friday into Saturday morning.

"As part of a plan to maintain tactical surprise, part of the package proceeded to the west and into the Pacific as a decoy, a deception effort known only to an extremely small number of planners and key leaders here in Washington and in Tampa," he said.

The main strike package consisted seven B-2 Spirit bombers, which had two crew members each. They proceeded to the east with minimal communications and flew undetected throughout the 18-hour flight and even completed multiple in-flight refueling.

 "At approximately 5 pm Eastern Standard Time last night and just prior to the strike package entering Iran, a US submarine in the Central Command Area of Responsibility launched more than two dozen Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles against key surface infrastructure targets at Isfahan," he added.

Several deception tactics, including decoys, were employed by the US as the fourth and fifth generation aircraft flew in front of the strike package to sweep any enemy fighters and surface-to-air missile threats. 

Russia and China have strongly condemned the US strikes on Iran and highlighted that the actions seriously violated the principles of the UN Charter and international law. The 27-nation European Union has urged all sides to step back and return to the negotiating table. 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed deep concern over Iran's conflict with Israel and called for immediate de-escalation of the situation through dialogue and diplomacy. The phone conversation was initiated by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian hours after US bombings.