Israel launched a fresh wave of attacks on Monday, targeting access routes to Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility, following a significant U.S. strike over the weekend. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed it had struck roads leading to the underground site to disrupt Iran’s operations. Iranian state media acknowledged the second strike on Fordow but did not specify the extent of the damage or who was behind it, although it followed closely on the heels of confirmed U.S. action.
Israel Targets Evin Prison, Iran’s Command Centers Amid Wider U.S.-Led Military Offensive
Beyond Fordow, Israel extended its offensive to several Iranian military command centers and Tehran’s infamous Evin Prison, asserting these actions were part of a larger strategy to cripple Iran’s military infrastructure. The IDF’s campaign included explosive strikes, with footage revealing a prison gate being blown open. Iran’s judiciary stated that the prison was under control despite partial structural damage, without offering further details.
The recent hostilities were ignited by a surprise U.S. military operation on Saturday targeting Iran’s major nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Utilizing advanced stealth bombers and submarines, the U.S. deployed powerful bunker-busting munitions to strike the heavily fortified Fordow site. According to U.S. military leadership, the attacks caused substantial destruction, though a full assessment of the damage is still underway.
IAEA Warns of Major Damage at Fordow, Uncertainty Grows Over Iran’s Nuclear Material
Rafael Mariano Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stated that the U.S. strike likely caused significant damage to Fordow’s centrifuge infrastructure due to the nature of the weaponry used. Despite the severity of the strikes, the IAEA reported no increase in off-site radiation levels. The fate of Iran’s enriched nuclear material remains uncertain, raising questions about whether the material was relocated prior to the attacks.
Iran has responded by launching missiles into Israel, indicating a rapid escalation of the conflict. Fordow, a deeply buried facility near the city of Qom, was considered central to Iran’s uranium enrichment efforts. Satellite imagery following the U.S. strike showed heavy damage, with some above-ground structures obliterated. As the international community watches closely, experts have suggested that Iran’s nuclear program may have suffered a crippling blow.