ISLAMABAD: The Israeli military confirmed it carried out overnight airstrikes on critical nuclear sites in Iran, targeting the Arak heavy-water reactor and a nuclear weapons development site near Natanz.
This action marks another escalation in the ongoing conflict over Iran’s nuclear program and regional security concerns.
Iranian media reported that air defenses were activated around the Khondab nuclear facility close to
Arak, where two projectiles struck nearby areas.
Officials said evacuations were conducted before the strikes, and no casualties or radiation leaks have been reported so far.
Targeting Iran’s Nuclear Capabilities
Israel stated the attack focused on the reactor’s core seal structure in Arak, which plays a key role in plutonium production.
The Arak reactor is a heavy-water research facility that was partially built but halted under the 2015 nuclear agreement.
The reactor core had been removed and filled with concrete to prevent its use, yet Iran informed the
UN that it plans to restart operations in 2026.
Heavy-water reactors like Arak are a proliferation risk because they can produce plutonium usable in nuclear weapons.
Natanz Under Continued Pressure
Natanz, the site of Iran’s uranium enrichment plants, has been a repeated target in this conflict.
Israeli military officials described it as a central facility for Iran’s nuclear weapons development efforts.
Iran insists its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes only, denying allegations of weaponization.
The international community remains vigilant as tensions rise and security implications deepen.
