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By Amira El-Fekki
Middle East News Reporter
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New satellite imagery reveals multiple sites across Iran targeted in airstrikes, including nuclear facilities, in what Israel describes as a preemptive campaign to dismantle Iran's nuclear weaponization program. Iran, denying those accusations, has responded with missile attacks on Israel, as the conflict continues to escalate with reported damage and casualties on both sides.
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Why It Matters
The conflict, now entering its fourth day, has destabilized the Middle East and raised the stakes of a broader regional conflict drawing in wider geopolitical actors that could include the United States, Israel's main ally and Iran's longtime foe.
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Tehran has accused Washington of supporting the attack, from which the United States initially distanced itself and made clear it did not participate in but later helped Israel counter Iranian reprisals. After warning the U.S. and its allies not to help Israel repel its retaliatory attacks, an Iranian missile has struck near the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv on Monday.
What To Know
Israel has struck Iran's nuclear sites, airports, residential areas and the largest gas field amid other critical infrastructure and also killing senior officials. The major escalation was met with a series of missiles launched from Iran on Israel—observed from the skies of Israel's neighboring Arab countries—that have breached Israel's Iron Dome defenses and killed civilians, according to the authorities.
Iran has said there was damage to several sites, although the scale is yet to be determined. The International Atomic Energy Agency said it did not observe damages at Natanz and other nuclear sites struck on Friday, according to Reuters.
Satellite images by Planet Labs provided to Newsweek have shown key sites in Iran which have sustained damages. On June 13, Iran confirmed that Israel hit the Natanz nuclear facility, the country's main underground multi-level enrichment site.
The Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center, a central component of Iran's nuclear infrastructure, has reportedly seen its operations disrupted in the recent attack on June 13.
A massive explosion was reported near Tabriz Airport on Friday afternoon, according to Iran's Mehr news Agency.
Several explosions were heard in the city of Kermanshah, where Iranian media said Israel also targeted a hospital.
Israel struck at Fordow nuclear site after Natanz, according to The Jerusalem post, a sensitive location believed to have been the target of Israeli intelligence for months. A day before Israeli strikes, Iran had given the order to replace first-generation centrifuges with advanced IR-6 machines at the enrichment site, in response to a condemning IAEA resolution. Iran denies that its uranium enrichment is aimed at building nuclear weapons.
What People Are Saying
Colonel Reza Sayyad, spokesperson for the Armed Forces, warned Israeli citizens on Sunday, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency: "Warnings for you in the coming days: Leave the occupied territories, because they certainly won't be inhabitable in the future!"
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday: "Our wonderful combat pilots are in the skies above the burning city of Tehran. We are determined to complete the mission of removing the double threat".
Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Friday: "This development is deeply concerning. I have repeatedly stated that nuclear facilities must never be attacked, regardless of the context or circumstances, as it could harm both people and the environment. Such attacks have serious implications for nuclear safety, security and safeguards, as well as regional and international peace and security."
What Happens Next
Both nations are entrenched in a cycle of retaliation, with Israel warning Iranian citizens it is going to attack more military sites. World leaders are seeking a de-escalation of the situation.
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