Israel Strikes 2 Iranian Nuclear Sites, Iran Retaliates
The Israeli Air Force conducted airstrikes on two Iranian nuclear sites on June 19, targeting a nuclear reactor capable of producing weapons-grade plutonium and Iran’s largest uranium enrichment facility. The strikes were part of a series of attacks on military targets in Tehran and other areas.
The IDF issued a warning just before 5 a.m. local time in Tehran, urging evacuation within 2 kilometers of the inactive Arak nuclear plant, now known as Khondab. Internet access in Iran was cut for nearly 24 hours, with the regime citing Israel’s alleged military misuse of the network.
The airstrikes also hit military production sites responsible for producing and assembling ballistic missiles, along with Iranian air defense systems such as air defense batteries, missile storage sites, and radars. The Israeli Air Force described the attacks as part of extensive operations to disrupt Iran’s nuclear weapons program.
The Arak Nuclear Complex, located about 200 kilometers southwest of Tehran, hosts Iran’s IR-40 heavy water nuclear reactor, which has been monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) due to its potential for producing weapons-grade plutonium. The strikes on Arak targeted components of the reactor designed to produce plutonium, aiming to prevent its capability from being restored for nuclear weapons production.
The IDF stated that the attacks caused no casualties and that safety measures were taken to protect residents in the vicinity of the sites. The IAEA confirmed that the site, which was under construction, was hit but contained no nuclear material.
Natanz, Iran’s primary uranium enrichment site, was also targeted in the airstrikes. The facility, built deep underground and protected by reinforced concrete walls, had previously been damaged in Israel’s initial attacks on June 13. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that the follow-up attack disabled the Natanz nuclear facility.
In retaliation, Iran launched a wave of missile attacks on central Israel and Beersheba, damaging the Soroka Hospital complex. Netanyahu condemned the attacks, vowing to hold the Iranian regime accountable.
The missile attacks targeted a military command center located near Soroka Hospital, but the hospital itself sustained minimal damage. The IDF denied claims of military infrastructure beneath the hospital, emphasizing that attacking hospitals is a war crime.
Israel’s ambulance service reported at least 65 injuries from the missile attacks, with some buildings in Tel Aviv also damaged. The Israeli government condemned the attacks as war crimes and reiterated its commitment to defending against Iranian aggression.
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