Israeli forces launched airstrikes Saturday on facilities in Iran associated with the country’s missile production and defunct nuclear weapons program, according to reports by American analysts.
The airstrikes reportedly struck structures at Iran’s Parchin and Khojir military facilities near Tehran.
David Albright, a former U.N. weapons inspector, and Decker Eveleth, an associate research analyst with the Center for Naval Analyses (CNA) in Washington, both reviewed commercial satellite imagery following the attacks. Albright and Eveleth concluded that Israeli airstrikes targeted buildings used for mixing solid-fuel propellant in rocket engines at both sites. The researchers identified the Parchin facility as involved with Iran’s past nuclear weapons program, and the Khojir site as a missile development and production complex.
“The facilities at Parchin were once part of Iran’s efforts to develop nuclear weapons,” Albright told Reuters. “The strikes appear to have focused on 12 industrial mixers essential 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, the New York Times reported that another target was the Russian-made S-300 air defense system stationed near Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport, critical to Iran’s anti-air capabilities. Sources quoted by the Times indicated that multiple Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) missile bases were also hit.
Iranian officials confirmed two fatalities from the strikes, attributing them to attacks on military installations south and west of Tehran. This is not the first time Israeli forces have targeted Iranian military assets: in April, they reportedly struck a similar S-300 system near Iran’s Natanz nuclear site.
Israel has declined to comment, consistent with its policy of ambiguity regarding overseas operations. However, analysts see these actions as part of Israel’s broader strategy to limit Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities, which Israel views as a direct threat.