A Bird's Eye View of Israel's Strike on Iran's Nuke Sites
Israel Launches Intense Strikes on Iranian Nuclear Sites
Dig into the aftermath of Israel's bold strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities!
Just a couple of hours post-attack, satellite images surfaced, showcasing the impacts on several Iranian sites. The images illustrate hits across various locations, but it's unclear how badly the Iranian nuclear program has been crippled.
Israel's attacks aren't merely focused on research centers and enrichment facilities. The Fordo nuclear facility, for example, has garnered significant attention due to its extensive underground tunnels close to Qom, about 90 kilometers south of Tehran. These tunnels often house Iran's nuclear work atdepths of up to 90 meters beneath the Earth's surface.
The Natanz nuclear facility, on the other hand, was hit multiple times during the initial wave of Israeli attacks. A before-and-after image comparison reveals impacts in the inner ring of the approximately four-square-kilometer, hermetically sealed facility. Western analysts believe the first Israeli attack wave targeted the power supply of the site. Israeli projectiles reportedly hit the local transformer station in the northwest of the facility.
There's also been evidence of explosive and fire traces on at least four other buildings in Isfahan the day after the start of Israel's attacks. The Iranian Nuclear Research Center in Isfahan showed signs of targeted fire on individual factory or storage halls.
The IAEA estimated that the facilities for uranium enrichment in Natanz were "at least severely damaged, if not completely destroyed" due to the impacts in the transformer station and the subsequent power outage.
When it comes to politics, these incidents haven't gone unnoticed. Strategic sites like air defense, radar systems, rocket bases, and ammunition depots belonging to Iran's "Revolutionary Guards" were also targeted. Sites like the Ghadir site and the rocket depot Bid Kaneh near Tehran have experienced significant explosions.
The scale of the damage visible from space doesn't allow definitive conclusions about the actual destruction on the ground. However, due to the impact patterns, it's suggested that Israeli forces have employed precision bombs like the GBU-31 or GBU-28 in deployments deep in Iran's heartland. These weapons could penetrate several floors and then explode deep underground, causing extensive damage.
The ultimate goal of such an air attack would likely be the nuclear facilities at Fordo, according to Western observers. The intact status of Fordow is crucial for Iran's ability to continue advanced enrichment activities and its future condition will significantly influence Iran's nuclear trajectory in the coming weeks.
For now, the IAEA has found no evidence of nuclear material release or shelling of underground facilities for uranium enrichment in Iran.
Sources: ntv.de
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Behind the Scenes:
After Israel's strikes in June 2025, Iran's nuclear program has experienced significant disruptions, particularly at key sites like Natanz and Isfahan. The status of Fordow remains somewhat uncertain, but it's a critical site for Iran's nuclear ambitions. The IAEA has also found Iran to be in breach of its nuclear safeguards in early June 2025 for the first time since 2005.
The main uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, for instance, suffered significant damage due to Israeli attacks around mid-June 2025. No elevated radiation levels were detected, indicating no nuclear material release so far. The Fordow facility, though reportedly attacked by Israel, has no confirmed damage. Its intact status is considered decisive for Iran’s ability to continue advanced enrichment activities, significantly influencing Iran’s nuclear trajectory in the coming weeks.
Israel has also targeted other nuclear research and development sites near Tehran, including centrifuge production facilities like TNRC and TESA workshop in Karaj, ultimately causing destruction or damage to buildings used for centrifuge manufacturing and testing advanced rotors.
The overall impact of Israel's strikes has slowed down Iran's nuclear program, but Iran's leadership remains defiant, promising to accelerate its nuclear work and enhance security at facilities like Fordow. In the coming weeks, the balance between Iran’s capacity to rebuild or advance its nuclear program and the effectiveness of Israel's campaign and international diplomatic pressures will be crucial.
The political landscape and general news have been affected by Israel's attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities, including sites like the Fordo nuclear facility, Natanz nuclear facility, and Isfahan Nuclear Research Center. These incidents have also extended to other strategic sites such as air defense, radar systems, and ammunition depots belonging to Iran's "Revolutionary Guards". It's important to note that community policy and employment policy are not directly related to the ongoing strike on Iran's nuclear sites.
