Israel strikes Iranian nuclear facility, prepares for extended conflict
TEHRAN — Israel struck a nuclear research facility in Iran early Saturday and killed multiple senior Iranian commanders, as its military warned of a potentially protracted war aimed at dismantling Iran's nuclear and military infrastructure. The Israeli military said the overnight strike targeted two centrifuge production sites near a mountain in Isfahan in a two-phase operation. It was the second attack on the city since the war began on June 13. Akbar Salehi, deputy governor for security affairs in Isfahan province, confirmed the attack caused damage but reported no human casualties. An Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said recent operations had disabled over half of Iran's missile and drone launchers. He described Iran's retaliatory drone and missile barrage overnight as a 'small-scale' attack that was mostly intercepted. 'We've created a bottleneck,' the official said. 'But Iran clearly retains capabilities.' Meanwhile, Magen David Adom, Israel's national emergency service, reported that a drone hit a residential building in northern Israel, though no injuries were reported. Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, Israel's chief military spokesperson, said the army has been instructed to prepare for a 'prolonged campaign' focused on eliminating nuclear enrichment facilities and missile infrastructure. 'We are deepening our strikes night after night,' he said. 'We will continue until the threat is removed.' Diplomatic talks in Geneva on Friday failed to yield a breakthrough. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran remained open to diplomacy but would not engage with the U.S. while Israeli attacks continued. 'Iran is ready to consider diplomacy once aggression is stopped,' Araghchi said, warning that any U.S. military involvement would be 'very dangerous for everyone.' President Donald Trump is reportedly considering U.S. intervention but has delayed a decision for up to two weeks. Analysts note that only American 'bunker-buster' bombs could reach Iran's underground Fordo enrichment facility. Since June 13, Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 722 people in Iran, including 285 civilians, according to an Iranian human rights group based in Washington. Over 2,500 people have been wounded. Iran has launched more than 450 missiles and 1,000 drones at Israel, killing 24 and injuring hundreds, Israeli estimates show. Among the most high-profile killings, Israel confirmed the deaths of Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, Gen. Hossein Salami, and Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh in its opening strikes. On Saturday, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced the killing of Saeed Izadi, a senior Quds Force commander tied to Hamas, in an airstrike in Qom. Another top Quds Force figure, Behnam Shahriyari, allegedly responsible for weapons transfers to Hezbollah and Hamas, was also killed in western Iran. Israel further claimed it had eliminated a senior Iranian drone commander overnight. On Friday, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi warned the U.N. Security Council of the catastrophic risk of targeting Iran's only commercial nuclear reactor in Bushehr. 'A direct hit would result in a very high release of radioactivity,' Grossi said. So far, Israel has avoided striking the Bushehr plant, instead focusing on facilities at Natanz, centrifuge workshops near Tehran, laboratories in Isfahan, and the Arak heavy water reactor. Iran, which once accepted international oversight under the 2015 nuclear deal, began ramping up enrichment and curbing inspections after Trump withdrew the U.S. from the agreement. Tehran now enriches uranium up to 60%, close to weapons-grade. On Saturday, senior adviser Ali Larijani threatened Grossi in a social media post, blaming his remarks for prompting Israeli aggression. 'Grossi will pay after the war,' Larijani wrote, without elaboration. While Iran insists its nuclear ambitions are peaceful, it remains the only non-nuclear-weapons state enriching uranium to 60%. Israel, which has never confirmed possessing nuclear weapons, is widely believed to be the Middle East's sole nuclear power. — Agencies
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