Israel Strikes Back Amidst Ongoing Tensions
On Monday, Israel responded to a recent US strike that targeted routes leading to underground sites in Iran. The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) reported that their action aimed to disrupt access to Fordow, a significant enrichment facility.
Prior to the IDF’s announcement, Iranian state media indicated that Fordow was still operational after the US attack, though details regarding any damage were lacking. The IDF has stated that its strikes are part of ongoing efforts to diminish the military strength of the Iranian regime. In a retaliatory move, Iran has launched missiles towards Israel following the US actions.
The US initiated a surprise bombardment on Saturday, deploying B-2 stealth bombers and submarines to hit nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Notably, Fordow required specialized bunker-busting bombs due to its underground nature.
According to Rafael Mariano Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Fordow facility is likely to face significant damage from the US offensive. He remarked on the expected level of destruction due to the type of explosives used and the vulnerability of centrifuges to strong vibrations.
General Dan Kane, speaking at a Pentagon briefing, noted that while the three targeted Iranian nuclear sites experienced severe damage, a full assessment of the situation would take time. Satellite images from Sunday revealed that several structures at Fordow had been destroyed, while earlier images showed vehicular activity at the site.
The IAEA confirmed that radiation levels off-site have not shown any notable increase following the strikes on the Iranian facilities. As of Monday, there remains uncertainty about whether the US strike successfully destroyed any enriched nuclear material or if Iran had relocated it beforehand.
Fordow itself, situated on a mountainside near QOM, is about 60 miles southwest of Tehran.
