Images show damage to the entryways at Iran's Fordow nuclear site after US strikes
Satellite images taken on Sunday and analyzed by The Associated Press show damage to the entryways to Iran's underground nuclear site at Fordo after U.S. airstrikes targeted the facility.
The images by Planet Labs PBC also appeared to show damage to the mountain itself that Fordo is under. Sealing those entry tunnels means that Iran would have to dig out the facility to reach anything inside.
The once-brown mountain had parts turned gray and its contours appeared slightly different than in previous images, suggesting a blast threw up debris around the site. That suggests the use of specialized American bunker buster bombs on the facility.
Light gray smoke also hung in the air. Iran has yet to offer a damage assessment of the site.
A satellite picture shows damage to the entryways at Fordow nuclear site in Iran. AP
The United States attacked three sites in Iran early Sunday, inserting itself into Israel's war aimed at destroying the Iranian nuclear program in a risky gambit to weaken a longtime foe that prompted fears of a wider regional conflict as Tehran accused Washington of launching "a dangerous war."
U.S. President Donald Trump asserted that Iran's key nuclear sites were "completely and fully obliterated" in an address to the nation from the White House. There was no independent damage assessment.
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran confirmed that attacks took place on its Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz sites, but it insisted that its nuclear program will not be stopped. Iran and the U.N. nuclear watchdog said there were no immediate signs of radioactive contamination at the three locations following the strikes.
It was not clear whether the U.S. would continue attacking Iran alongside its ally Israel, which has been engaged in a war with Iran for nine days. Countries around the globe are calling for diplomacy and caution. Trump acted without congressional authorization, and he also warned there would be additional strikes if Tehran retaliated against U.S. forces.
"There will either be peace or there will be tragedy for Iran," he said.
Iran's Foreign Ministry said Washington had "betrayed diplomacy" with the military strikes in support of Israel, and said that "the U.S. has itself launched a dangerous war against Iran" now.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran reserves its right to resist with full force against U.S. military aggression and the crimes committed by this rogue regime, and to defend Iran's security and national interests," the ministry said in a lengthy statement.
Hours after the American attacks, Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it launched a barrage of 40 missiles at Israel, including its Khorramshahr-4, which can carry multiple warheads. Israeli authorities reported that more than 80 people suffered mostly minor injuries, though one multi-story building in Tel Aviv was significantly damaged, with its entire façade torn away to expose the apartments inside. Houses across the street were almost completely destroyed.
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