It’s published •update
Earlier on Friday, Israel launched a massive military operation against at least 100 Iranian targets, including military leaders of the Iranian regime and strategic sites for Iran’s nuclear program.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel targeted Iran’s nuclear enrichment and nuclear weapons facilities, ballistic missile program sites and individual Iranian nuclear scientists.
Approximately 12 different sites appear to have been targeted, including those of Tehran, Shiraz, Tabriz, and Isfahan and Kermansha.
Operation “Lion”: What was your target on Friday?
According to the IDF, Israel used 200 fighter jets and around 330 “various ammunition” to attack more than 100 targets nationwide.
Israel and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have confirmed a strike at Natantz’s nuclear site, about 250 km from Tehran.
Iran’s most important nuclear enrichment sites and their underground centrifuge facilities are protected by heavy concrete walls. Construction work was underway to expand the site.
It is unclear how much damage was caused during the attack, but video footage posted online appeared to show the aftermath of a massive explosion.
According to the US-based Institute (ISW), the list of targets in Tehran includes the neighborhoods of Farazad, Amir Abad, Andalzgoh, Ravisa District and the Asatiduesarv complex. Targets in Tehran’s Novonyado, Rangari and Patrislurumba Street were also attacked. The Jahan Koudak tower was also struck.
ISW says unverified images have been circulated on social media showing specific buildings affected by the airstrike, suggesting Israel committed targeted killings in Tehran.
Israeli Army Radio also reported that Israel targeted Ali Shamhani, the top adviser of the Supreme Leader.
What did Israel not attack?
Iranian authorities told UN nuclear agency Chihrafaer Grossi that the Israeli strike has not collided with nuclear facilities in the countries of Fordau, Isfahan and Buscher.
The Fordow facility is located approximately 100 km southwest of Tehran. It also hosts a centrifugal cascade, but is smaller than the Natantz facility.
Iran uses Fordows to produce most of the uranium that has accumulated since 2021.
The site is reportedly designed to withstand air strikes as it is protected by anti-aircraft batteries. This is a protected, concentrated site built on an estimated 80 metres of mountainside under rocks and soil.
Military experts previously said they needed weapons like the “bunkerbuster” bombs known as “large weapon intruders.” This is an aspect that Israel may need our help and support in providing this type of weapon.
Another nuclear facility that Israel is not targeting is the Isfahan facility.
Located about 350 km southeast of Tehran, Isfahan employs thousands of nuclear scientists. There are also three Chinese research reactors and laboratories related to the country’s atomic programme. Isfahan is considered Iran’s largest nuclear research complex.
The Bucher Nuclear Power Plant in the Persian Gulf, about 750 km south of Tehran, is Iran’s only commercial nuclear power plant.
Plant construction began in the mid-1970s under Shah Mohammad Reza Pallavi in Iran. After the Islamic Revolution in 1979, the plant was repeatedly targeted in the Iran-Iraq wars. Russia later completed construction of the facility.
Iran is building two other reactors at its site. Buscher is fueled by uranium produced in Russia rather than Iran and is monitored by the IAEA.
