WASHINGTON. An Israeli airstrike on Saturday targeted a former nuclear weapons test site in Iran and missile fuel mixing facilities, according to assessments by researchers. David Albright, former U.N. weapons inspector, and Decker Eveleth, a research analyst at Washington-based think tank CNA, analyzed commercial satellite images and independently concluded that Israel struck key military sites near Tehran.
The airstrikes reportedly hit Parchin, a large military complex, and Khojir, an extensive missile production site undergoing recent expansion. “Israel’s actions may have significantly hampered Iran’s ability to mass produce missiles,” Eveleth explained. The attack reportedly involved Israeli jets hitting missile factories and sites in western Iran in retaliation for Iran’s Oct. 1 missile attack on Israel, during which Iran launched over 200 missiles.
In posts on X, Albright stated that satellite images confirm Israel’s airstrike damaged a facility in Parchin known as Taleghan 2, historically linked to the Amad Plan, Iran’s now-defunct nuclear program. The U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and U.S. intelligence assert Iran ended the program in 2003, though Iran denies pursuing nuclear weapons. Albright, head of the Institute for Science and International Security, examined files from the program obtained by Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency in 2018. He added, “The building’s test equipment, even if no longer operational, holds intrinsic value for any future nuclear-related activity.”
The satellite images revealed three nearby buildings at Parchin—350 yards from Taleghan 2—were also struck, two of which housed equipment for mixing solid fuel for ballistic missiles. “Israel targeted buildings containing solid-fuel mixers,” said Eveleth. “These mixers are export-controlled and costly to replace. Iran has spent years importing them, making their loss a serious setback.”
In addition, Planet Labs imagery showed Israel destroyed solid fuel mixing sites in the Khojir complex, an area fortified with high dirt berms intended to contain explosions. “These strikes appear precise and strategically impactful,” said Eveleth, noting that disrupting fuel mixing is a severe blow to missile production and reduces the threat posed by Iran’s missile stockpile. Axios reported that 12 “planetary mixers” were hit, citing Israeli sources who believe this hampers Iran’s ability to replenish long-range ballistic missiles and may deter further Iranian missile strikes.
Iran boasts the largest missile arsenal in the Middle East and has reportedly supplied missiles to Russia, Yemen’s Houthi rebels, and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. U.S. officials allege missile deliveries to Moscow for use against Ukraine, though Tehran and Moscow deny this.
Eveleth and Jeffrey Lewis, a weapons expert at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, have previously reported on Iran’s missile production expansion, confirmed by three senior Iranian officials, highlighting the region’s escalating military tensions.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
