The United States has carried out strikes that caused "extremely severe damage" to three of Iran's nuclear facilities, the top US military officer, General Dan Caine, said on Sunday.

President Donald Trump had spent weeks pursuing a diplomatic path to replace the nuclear deal with Tehran that he tore up during his first term in 2018.

But he ultimately decided to take military action against Iran's nuclear program, which had already been bombarded in a more than week-long Israeli campaign that has also targeted Tehran's top military brass.

Below, AFP examines what we know about the US strikes on Iran -- an operation dubbed "Midnight Hammer."

- Major operation -

Caine told journalists the strikes involved more than 125 US aircraft including B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, fighters, aerial refueling tankers, a guided missile submarine and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft.

"This mission demonstrates the unmatched reach, coordination and capability of the United States military," the general said. "No other military in the world could have done this."

Caine said it was "too early" to........

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