Iran’s Fordow Nuclear Site Hit Again as IDF Targets Access Routes Post-US Strike

In a dramatic escalation of tensions in the Middle East, Iran’s heavily fortified Fordow nuclear site faced a second strike on Monday, this time by Israeli forces targeting access routes to the underground facility. This comes on the heels of a massive U.S. attack over the weekend that reportedly inflicted severe damage on multiple Iranian nuclear sites, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed their latest operation aimed to disrupt pathways to Fordow, a critical hub for Iran’s uranium enrichment program, nestled into a mountainside near Qom. Meanwhile, Iranian state media acknowledged the attack but remained vague on the extent of damage or casualties.

Beyond Fordow, Israel’s military campaign extended to other strategic targets, including Tehran’s infamous Evin Prison and several Iranian military command centers. Iranian authorities claimed the situation at Evin is under control, though footage circulating online shows a gate being blasted open, hinting at significant disruption. The judiciary’s statement via Mizan news agency offered little clarity on the damage.

The U.S. strike on Saturday, utilizing B-2 stealth bombers and bunker-buster bombs, appears to have hit Fordow particularly hard. Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) noted that the site likely sustained substantial damage due to the precision and power of the weaponry used. Satellite imagery from Sunday reveals obliterated structures at Fordow, a stark contrast to earlier images showing activity at the site. Gen. Dan Caine of the Joint Chiefs of Staff echoed this, stating that while the full extent of destruction is still being assessed, the impact on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure is severe.

Amidst this chaos, Iran has retaliated by launching missiles into Israel, further stoking fears of a broader conflict. Questions linger over whether enriched nuclear material at Fordow was destroyed or relocated prior to the strikes, with the IAEA confirming no off-site radiation spikes have been detected so far.

This series of attacks marks a critical juncture in the region, raising the stakes for all parties involved. As military actions intensify, the world watches to see if diplomacy can catch up before the situation spirals further out of control.