An Israeli strike hit Iran’s state broadcaster yesterday while the head of the UN nuclear watchdog indicated extensive damage to Iran’s biggest uranium enrichment plant.
Israeli forces have stepped up their bombardment of Iranian cities, while Iran proved capable of piercing Israeli air defences with one of its most successful volleys yet of retaliatory missile strikes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told troops at an air base that Israel was on its way to achieving its two main aims: wiping out Iran’s nuclear programme and destroying its missiles.
“We are on the path to victory,” he said. “We are telling the citizens of Tehran: ‘Evacuate’ – and we are taking action.”
Late last night, Israel said it hit Iran’s broadcasting authority, and footage showed a newsreader hurrying from her seat as a blast struck. Iran’s State News Agency also reported the strike. Iranian media said Iran was preparing for the “largest and most intense missile attack” yet against Israel, including military and intelligence targets.
Israel says it now has control of Iranian airspace and intends to escalate the campaign in coming days.
Israel said it hit Iranian F-14 fighter planes at Tehran airport yesterday, and its air strikes have also put at least two of Iran’s three operating uranium enrichment plants out of action.
Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said yesterday it was very likely all the roughly 15,000 centrifuges operating at Iran’s biggest uranium enrichment plant at Natanz were badly damaged or destroyed because of a power cut caused by an Israeli strike.
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