By Smartencyclopedia with Agencies

Tel Aviv – Israeli forces launched targeted airstrikes on Saturday against key Iranian military sites associated with missile production and Iran’s former nuclear weapons program, according to assessments by American analysts. The attacks reportedly struck facilities in Iran’s Parchin and Khojir military complexes, both near Tehran.

David Albright, former U.N. weapons inspector, and Decker Eveleth, a research analyst with the Center for Naval Analyses in Washington, examined commercial satellite images following the attacks. Their analysis revealed that the airstrikes likely focused on buildings used for mixing solid-fuel propellant in rocket engines at both Parchin and Khojir, impacting Iran’s missile manufacturing capabilities. “The facilities at Parchin were once part of Iran’s efforts to develop nuclear weapons,” Albright said in a statement. “The strikes appear to have targeted 12 industrial mixers critical for solid-fuel production, limiting Iran’s missile capabilities.”

#BREAKING: Satellite images published today reveal damage to two key Iranian military sites following Israeli strikes. The targeted facilities include Parchin, a nuclear-related site and IRGC military base, and Khojir, a critical location for Iran’s ballistic missile production.… pic.twitter.com/X9cxo3maTp

— Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) October 27, 2024

In addition to Parchin and Khojir, sources cited by The New York Times indicated that Israel may have also struck a Russian-made S-300 air defense system near Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport. The S-300 system is a critical part of Iran’s air defense network, and the attack on it could significantly impact Iran’s ability to protect its skies. Additional reports suggest that missile bases operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were also targeted.

Iranian officials confirmed two fatalities as a result of the strikes and reported damage to military installations southwest of Tehran. This attack marks another instance of Israel’s efforts to dismantle Iran’s missile development infrastructure, following similar strikes in April targeting an S-300 system near Iran’s Natanz nuclear site.

Israel has not commented on the airstrikes, adhering to its policy of ambiguity concerning overseas operations. However, defense analysts view these strikes as part of Israel’s ongoing strategy to counter Iran’s missile capabilities, which Israel perceives as a direct threat to its national security.

The strikes are expected to heighten tensions between the two nations and further intensify the geopolitical strain in the region.