Israeli strike damages secret military bases in Iran, kills four soldiers
Iranian military bases near Tehran damaged in Israeli strike, four soldiers killed
An Israeli strike on Iran damaged facilities at a secretive military base southeast of Tehran, linked to Iran’s former nuclear weapons program. Satellite photos analysed on Sunday revealed the damage at Iran’s Parchin military base and another base linked to its ballistic missile program. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) suspects that Parchin was once used for testing high explosives capable of triggering nuclear weapons. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful, although the IAEA and Western intelligence agencies claim Iran had an active weapons program until 2003.
Damage was also seen at the nearby Khojir military base, believed to hide an underground tunnel system and missile production sites. Iran’s military has not acknowledged damage at either Khojir or Parchin from the Israeli attack early Saturday, but stated that four Iranian soldiers working in air defense were killed. On Sunday, Iran also reported a civilian casualty without providing further details.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not comment, and the Israeli military also declined to respond. However, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei advised against exaggerating or downplaying the attack’s significance, without calling for immediate retaliation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned that Israel’s strikes severely harmed Iran and achieved their goals.
They said nothing was hit
Then they ordered censorship on all videos
And yet we know what we know
💢5 soldiers died in Iran during the attack
💢 a satellite footage show damage
💢a factory was hit and is no longer active pic.twitter.com/EfclYASRxI— Elly 🎗️Israel Hamas War Updates (@elly_bar) October 27, 2024
The attack affected areas in Ilam, Khuzestan, and Tehran provinces. Satellite images showed burned fields near Iran’s Tange Bijar natural gas site in Ilam province, though the connection to the attack was unclear. In Parchin, about 40 kilometers southeast of Tehran, one structure was completely destroyed, while others were damaged. At Khojir, roughly 20 kilometers from Tehran, at least two structures showed damage in satellite images.
Analysts from various think tanks and former United Nations weapon inspector David Albright identified the damaged bases. Videos obtained by the AP showed Iranian air defense systems firing in the vicinity during the attack on Saturday.
Albright’s Institute for Science and International Security identified the destroyed building at Parchin as “Taleghan 2,” believed to house a high explosive chamber and flash X-ray system for testing. The institute noted that it is not certain if Iran used uranium at “Taleghan 2,” but it may have studied the compression of natural uranium hemispheres.
IAEA head Rafael Mariano Grossi confirmed on social media that Iran’s nuclear facilities were not impacted and called for prudence to avoid jeopardizing the safety of nuclear materials.
Buildings destroyed at Khojir and Parchin likely included those used for creating solid fuel for ballistic missiles. The Israeli military stated it targeted missile manufacturing sites used to produce missiles fired at Israel over the past year. This could disrupt Iran’s ballistic missile production significantly. Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, overseeing the missile program, remained silent following the attack.
Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal, including shorter-range missiles, was estimated to be over 3,000 by Gen. Kenneth McKenzie in 2022. Since then, Iran has launched hundreds of missiles in various attacks. No videos or photos have surfaced showing missile parts or civilian damage, suggesting accurate Israeli strikes compared to Iran’s previous missile attacks on Israel. Israel used aircraft-fired missiles in the recent assault.
One factory was hit in Shamsabad Industrial City near Tehran, corresponding to an address for TIECO, a firm involved in machinery for Iran’s oil and gas industry. TIECO officials requested a formal letter from the AP before responding to questions, but did not reply to a letter sent.
What Other Media Are Saying
- Mathrubhumi English reports that Iranian secret military bases were damaged in Israeli air strikes, highlighted by satellite images showing significant damage to facilities deep within Iran.(read more)
- Nypost: The article details Israel’s retaliatory strike on two secret Iranian bases, highlighting extensive damage and emphasizing the use of US-made F-35 stealth fighters in the operation.(read more)
- NewsX reports that Israeli airstrikes have hit covert Iranian military bases, including Parchin and Khojir, causing significant damage and highlighting a precise targeting strategy aimed at disrupting Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What facilities were damaged in the Israeli strike on Iran?
Iran’s Parchin and Khojir military bases were damaged, involving structures linked to nuclear and missile programs.
How did Iran and Israel respond to the attack?
Iran’s military acknowledged casualties but not damage, while Israel claimed the strikes achieved their goals.
Did the attack impact Iran’s nuclear facilities?
No, IAEA head Rafael Mariano Grossi confirmed that Iran’s nuclear facilities were not impacted.
What did satellite photos reveal about the attack?
Satellite photos showed damage to structures at Parchin and Khojir, including one completely destroyed building.
What was the significance of the damaged buildings?
The buildings were likely used for high explosive testing and solid fuel production for ballistic missiles.
