Latest news with #ChaimWeizmann
Al-Ahram Weekly
2 days ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Open-source investigation maps Iran calculated retaliation on Israel intelligence strongholds - Region
Eekad, an Arab open-source intelligence platform, has mapped and analyzed through a detailed investigation multiple Iranian missile retaliatory strikes targeting critical Israeli military and intelligence sites, revealing Tehran's deliberate strategy to weaken Israel's defense and intelligence capabilities through precision attacks rather than random bombardment. Detailed analysis #جيونيوز | لم تكن صواريخ إيران تسقط عشوائيًا في إسرائيل على ما يبدو، بل كان أمامها بنك أهداف ثمين وضعته طهران لإضعاف قدرات تل أبيب الاستخباراتية. ❓إيكاد تتبعت خريطة الاستهدافات الإيرانية لمعرفة المواقع الاستخباراتية الإسرائيلية التي طالها القصف وما أهميتها؟ ولماذا اعتمدت طهران… — EekadFacts | إيكاد (@EekadFacts) June 18, 2025 Hakirya complex At the onset of Iranian missile strikes on 13 June, footage circulated on Israeli social media showing a missile landing near the Ministry of Defense in central Tel Aviv. Geospatial analysis confirmed that the missile fell close to the ministry but did not directly strike it. The Hakirya complex is often called the 'Pentagon of Israel.' It houses the Israel Defense Forces' General Staff Headquarters, the Ministry of Defense, and central military command and intelligence centres. It also serves as the core military-government hub in Tel Aviv, hosting multiple defense entities, including the war council and key facilities like the Marganit and Matkal towers. According to the Economic Times, Hakirya is among Israel's most heavily guarded and strategically sensitive sites. Weizmann Institute of Science Two days later, Tehran launched a missile strike on the Weizmann Institute located in Rehovot, south of Tel Aviv. Surveillance footage and geographic analysis identified the Andre Deloro building within the institute as the impact site; this building has been under construction since March 2021. The institute was founded by Chaim Weizmann, chemist and Israel's first president, and is internationally renowned for its foundational scientific research. It hosts approximately 250 research groups across disciplines, including biology, biochemistry, mathematics, and computer science. Historically, the Weizmann Institute has played a key role in Israel's nuclear research and weapons development, notably contributing to secret nuclear weapons programmes and wartime ammunition production dating back to 1948. Mossad headquarters On 17 June, Iranian missile strikes targeted the Mossad's headquarters in Herzliya. Verification via landmark comparison and map analysis confirmed that the strikes impacted this key intelligence site within the greater Tel Aviv area. Mossad is Israel's external intelligence agency responsible for clandestine operations such as intelligence gathering, targeted assassinations, sabotage, and infiltration. It operates under the direct authority of the prime minister's office and has near-total autonomy over its operational planning. Mossad's reach extends across the Middle East, Europe, Latin America, and Africa. The agency has been implicated in high-profile covert operations, including the 2010 assassination of Hamas commander Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh in Dubai and the 2018 theft of Iran's nuclear archive. Aman (Israeli military intelligence directorate) On the same day, Iran targeted the Israeli military intelligence directorate Aman, releasing footage of four distinct strikes in its vicinity. Geospatial and open-source verification confirmed that these attacks focused on Aman's headquarters in Herzliya. Aman is the central intelligence branch within the Israeli Military General Staff, collecting and analyzing military and strategic intelligence. Its responsibilities include monitoring enemy activity, providing strategic assessments to government decision-makers, and conducting defensive and offensive cyber operations. Aman comprises several specialized units, including Unit 8200 (communications interception and electronic surveillance), Unit 9900 (satellite imagery and geospatial analysis), and Unit 504 (agent recruitment and operations within enemy territory). Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Euronews
6 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
What do we know about Israel's Weizmann Institute?
In a dangerous development in the mutual escalation between Iran and Israel, an Iranian missile hit the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, south of Tel Aviv, at dawn on Sunday. The Weizmann Institute is one of the most important scientific centres in Israel and the world. Its roots date back to 1934, when it was founded by Chaim Weizmann under the name "Daniel Seif Research", before it was renamed in 1949 after its founder, who later became the first president of Israel. Today, the institute is home to some 2,500 researchers and staff and offers advanced master's and doctoral programmes in fields including mathematics, physics, biology, chemistry, biology and computer science. It has more than 30 scientific laboratories, a huge library, as well as residential and lecture facilities. But the institute is not just an academic facility; it is seen as part of Israel's national security infrastructure, playing a pivotal role in supporting the military through advanced research and technology. The Weizmann Institute is one of the pillars of technological innovation in Israel, directly contributing to the development of complex military systems, including: - Artificial intelligence for data analysis and combat guidance. - Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies and autonomous systems. - Advanced electronic tracking and jamming tools. - Alternative GPS navigation systems. - Protection of military codes. - Encrypted communication in hostile environments. - Research in directed energy and nuclear applications. - Development of field treatments for injured soldiers. These activities partly explain why the institute is considered a strategic target for Tehran, especially after recent Israeli strikes on military facilities and prominent Iranian scientists. It is notable that theIsraeli media did not show pictures or share accurate details about the extent of the damage, in accordance with strict instructions from the military censors that prevent the disclosure of injuries or damage to sensitive facilities. This reticence reflects the extent of the security embarrassment resulting from the breach of air defences, and highlights the vulnerability of Israeli infrastructure to precise attacks. The institute is generously funded by the Israeli government, in addition to significant support from international organisations, which enhances its ability to attract minds and develop projects that serve scientific and military progress. The institute also serves as a platform for international scientific collaborations, which could create diplomatic tension if investigations prove that sensitive internationally supported scientific facilities were directly attacked. The Israeli military has warned Iran on Sunday to immediately evacuate 'military weapons production factories,' likely signalling new strikes. Col. Avichay Adraee, a military spokesperson, posted the warning on the social platform X in Farsi. In the past, Adraee has signalled other strikes in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Yemen amid the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. His warning came just after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would stop its attacks on Israel if Israel stopped its strikes. Our journalists are working on this developing story.
