Israel attacked Iran’s nuclear development sites with a wave of airstrikes on Thursday, seeking to decimate the country’s nuclear program.
Israel’s Air Force bombed Iran’s Arak Nuclear Complex on Thursday morning. The facility is known as IR-40 and is used as a heavy-water nuclear reactor, according to the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance. Heavy water helps cool nuclear reactors and this process produces plutonium which can potentially be used to develop a nuclear weapon. It is considered a vital component to Iran’s nuclear programs. This facility began operating in 2003.
No casualties or damage to any civilian areas located near the reactor from the airstrikes were reported.
Israel issued evacuation warnings to residents in the vicinity ahead of the attacks, according to the Times of Israel. Other IDF operations overnight included striking strategic locations in Tehran, the capital city of Iran, and other areas throughout the country.
“The strike targeted the component intended for plutonium production, in order to prevent the reactor from being restored and used for nuclear weapons development,” the IDF announced.
Additionally, IDF also targeted Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility which is used to enrich uranium for nuclear development purposes. Additionally, IDF targeted a number of other sites in overnight bombings with the overall objective of ending Iran’s nuclear programs and any future plans for development.
In Natanz, Israeli forces also bombed a facility that IDF claimed was used to make nuclear weapons.
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“The site houses unique components and equipment used for the development of nuclear weapons, and hosts projects that enable the acceleration of the nuclear weapons program,” said IDF.
Euronews reported that the electrical infrastructure at Natanz’s underground facility was “completely destroyed.” This included significant damage to the site’s backup power plants and an important smaller near-surface facility. However, there was no reported damage to Iran’s all-important Fordow bunker facility.