Iran’s nuclear program has been rolled back more than a decade, Israeli officials believe, following a series of US airstrikes on three major nuclear facilities late last night, Ynet reports.
Following initial damage assessments, Israel believes the Natanz enrichment site was completely destroyed, N12 News reports. Early intel also suggests that the Fordow and Isfahan nuclear facilities sustained serious damage, though further confirmation is still pending.
With the American strikes delivering a decisive blow, Israeli defense officials now say the main objective of the military campaign against Iran has been achieved.
Moreover, preliminary intelligence indicates that most of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles were destroyed in the strikes, though small quantities may have been relocated prior to the attack.
Israel estimates that 80–90% of the enriched material was eliminated, but final confirmation is still pending as updated intel continues to arrive.
Earlier in the campaign, Israel carried out targeted assassination operations against at least 17 nuclear scientists, including some of the most experienced specialists in Iran’s nuclear program.
Many were killed in coordinated strikes on their homes during the opening salvo of Israel’s operation, a move designed to ensure complete surprise and severely disrupt Iran’s nuclear knowledge base.
