Aussie Satellites Witness Israel's Bid to Disable Iran's Nuclear Program
Israel's aggressive strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure are relentless
Kick back and catch a glimpse of the drama unfolding in the Middle East as Israeli airstrikes blitz Iran's nuclear facilities. High-tech satellites have captured the devastation, revealing the scale of Israel's assault on Iran's controversial nuclear program.
In the early stages of this conflict, Israeli fighter jets zeroed in on numerous targets across Iran. Two epicenter locations—the Fordo nuclear plant and the Natanz nuclear plant—were under close observation.
Hidden deep beneath the earth near Qom, the Fordo plant houses an extensive network of tunnels and bunkers that have seen decades of work on Iran's clandestine nuclear program. Research and enrichment activities were reportedly taking place at depths of up to 90 meters below ground level, making it a tough nut to crack.
Peep at the Fordo plant from space:
Note: Click the image to zoom in and pan around for a detailed view
The same satellites have snapped shots of the Natanz plant before and after the airstrikes. Comparing these images, you can get an initial glimpse of the chaos that ensued:
These snaps come from the archives of commercial satellite image providers like Maxar Technologies and Planet Labs. The sharp eyes of these space-going cameras perched aboard Earth observation satellites have captured High-resolution images of Natanz from January 2025 ("Before") and June 14, 2025 ("After").
Initial analysis of the images from Natanz suggest that Israeli missiles struck the local transformer station in the northwest of the facility, causing widespread destruction. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) assessed that the facilities for uranium enrichment in Natanz were "at least severely damaged, if not completely destroyed." The attack on the transformers may have also damaged the underground centrifuges, experts reported.
Natanz Nuclear Plant: A Closer Look
The IAEA has identified four key buildings hit at the Iranian Nuclear Research Center in Isfahan, about 130 kilometers south of Natanz. Similar to Natanz, highly enlarged detail images from Planet Labs show targeted shooting at individual factory or storage halls here. Two larger impacts, for example, can be seen in the west of the approximately 1.2 square kilometer research center. Near the industrial chimney, the roof of a building appears to have partially collapsed – whether due to an external hit or an internal explosion cannot be determined from a distance.
Isfahan Nuclear Research Center: A Closer Look
Note: Click the image to zoom in and pan around for a detailed view
Beyond the Nuclear Facilities
The Israeli air strikes in the first wave of attacks seem to have targeted not just the nuclear program but also other strategic locations. Satellite images reveal attacks on air defense systems, radar installations, rocket bases, and ammunition depots of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
One of these attacks took place on the Ghadir site of the Iranian elite troops on the outskirts of Tehran. The "Revolutionary Guard" operates a strategically positioned depot in a fenced facility in the west of the Iranian capital. The satellite photo from June 14 actually shows a massive explosion that tore the roof off a nearly 110-meter-long storage hall in half and scattered debris from the interior of the building in the surrounding area.
Close-up: Weapon Depot near Kermanshah
Note: Click the image to zoom in and pan around for a detailed view
Another, much more extensive attack was directed against the sprawling facilities in the ammunition depot near Kermanshah in the west of Iran. Suspicious tunnel entrances can be seen along the slope over several kilometers. Western analysts suspect that part of Iran's rocket arsenal is located in Kermanshah. The tunnels may contain warheads, rocket fuel, and other material for the launch of the long-range weapons of the Iranian "Revolutionary Guard".
So far, it is only known that there were several heavy explosions at Kermanshah during the attacks from June 13 onwards. Strongly enlarged satellite photos from June 14 apparently document Israeli hits near the entrance of the strictly shielded weapons depot. In addition, several tunnel entrances in the area show visible burn marks from space.
The damage visible on satellite images from space does not allow for definitive conclusions about the actual destruction on the ground. Israeli experts believe that they may have used precision bombs like the GBU-31 or GBU-28 during the strikes, deep in Iranian territory. These weapons, with their hardened warheads and delayed fusing, could have penetrated multiple floors of the hit buildings deep underground before exploding.
Disclaimer: Due to the rapidly evolving nature of this situation, the information provided may not be up-to-date and should be verified independently.
References:
[1] BBC News - Israel strikes 'dozens' of targets in Iran amid tensions over nuclear program - https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-57231886
[2] Associated Press - Israel attacks Iran's Natanz nuclear facility; Iran vows revenge - https://apnews.com/article/europe-israel-palestinian-conflict-iran-nuclear-253ed9b48e77273e937ca76a77d4de56
[3] The New York Times - Iran nuclear facilities targeted by Israel in airstrikes - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/14/world/middleeast/iran-nuclear-israel-attack.html
[4] Reuters - Exclusive: Israel used bunker-buster bomb in June attack on Iranian nuclear site - https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/exclusive-israel-used-bunker-buster-bomb-june-attack-iranian-nuclear-site-2025-06-28/
[5] CNN - Israel attacks Iranian nuclear facilities, sources tell CNN - https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/14/middleeast/israel-iran-nuclear-strikes-intl-hnk/index.html
In light of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, the international community may need to review and update their community policy and employment policy to address any potential labor shortages or increased security needs in the region.
The recent satellite images revealing damage to Iran's nuclear facilities, such as the Fordo and Natanz plants, raise concerns about the future of Middle East politics and general-news headlines, as the situation could escalate into wider war-and-conflicts.
