In a high-stakes global moment, Bossier Parish’s own Barksdale Air Force Base played a pivotal role in “Operation Midnight Hammer,” the U.S. strike that targeted Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Representative Raymond Crews—himself a former B-52 pilot—praised both the strategic planning and flawless execution in a recent interview with KSLA.

“Everything I heard about, it was textbook… having a mission being able to do that and not have a lot of bombers break down,” Crews remarked, impressed by the success of the long-range strike carried out by nine B-2 stealth bombers—some of which launched from and coordinated with Barksdale.

Highlighting the mission’s precision and its impact on global stability, Crews added:

“We took away the reason for Israel to be worried. Let’s take out those nuclear facilities—and we hit every single one.”

The Congressman also underscored Barksdale’s deeper value to national security:

Operational Reach: The base remains a strategic nerve center for the U.S. bomber fleet.
Quiet Powerhouse: “Barksdale is… so much more than B‑52s here,” Crews emphasized, calling attention to its often-overlooked role in mission coordination.

"Bossier Parish isn’t just home to Barksdale—it’s home to the heartbeat of U.S. airpower. In the words of Rep. Raymond Crews, the recent strike on Iran’s nuclear sites wasn’t just effective—it was ‘textbook.’ With coordination from Barksdale Air Force Base, this mission showed the world that American strength, precision, and deterrence are alive and well—and that Louisiana plays a central role in keeping the peace."