According to Iran’s state media, it warned that it will target the United Kingdom, the United States, and France’s bases and ships in the region if they help stop the Iranian strikes on Israel. On the other side, Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, threatened that Tehran would burn if the Iranian military kept launching missiles toward Israel after both countries exchanged strikes overnight. Significant explosions were reported in Tehran, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem following Iran’s launch of multiple missile strikes in response to Israeli attacks on its nuclear and military facilities on Friday.
According to Effie Deffrin, an IDF official, Israel’s military is striking various targets in Tehran and other cities of Iran. She stated that a series of strikes against multiple targets had occurred over the last 24 hours, resulting in over 150 hits on the targets. Deffrin also said that the targets include Iranian defense systems, missiles, as well as a nuclear site in Isfahan.
The conflict between the two started at a time when Washington and Tehran were set to resume nuclear talks. Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Minister of Iran, said that after the escalation from Israel, the nuclear discussions with the US are unjustifiable. He told the European Union foreign policy chief that, given the current scenario and what he calls the savagery of Israel, talks can’t be justified. So far, US and Iran officials have held five rounds of dialogues, mediated by Oman in April and May. Tehran has been quick to blame the Trump administration since Israel’s attacks started.
Israel Faces Challenges with Iran’s Underground Strategy
Netanyahu has long indicated his intention to dismantle Iranian nuclear facilities, and from the outset, Israel focused on Iran’s air defenses. The Israel Defense Forces has released several videos revealing missile batteries being destroyed. In a recent statement, Effie Defrin, the IDF spokesperson, said that Israel has air freedom all the way to Tehran. However, air defenses are not the only system shielding Iran’s extensive nuclear operations. Instead, most of the important facilities are buried deep underground, protected by layers of earth and reinforced concrete.
For example, the fuel enrichment facility at Fordow is believed to be located approximately 80 meters below the surface, while some analysts suggest that a new facility at Mt. Kolang maybe even deeper. To target like these plants requires specialist bombs like Massive Ordnance Penetrator and the GBU-57/B. Colloquially, the bunker-buster bomb is capable of destroying targets buried under around 60 meters of reinforced concrete. But currently, the United States is not directly taking part in the strikes, and Israel doesn’t possess the MOP.
Israel reports that 20 Iranian military commanders have been killed since the operation began. The Israeli military states it has eliminated Gholam-Regha Merhabi, the head of intelligence for Iran’s armed forces. They now claim to have killed over 20 Iranian military commanders since the start of their operation.
