As Israel hit an Iranian nuclear research facility overnight and killed three senior Iranian commanders in targeted attacks, it stressed the army has been asked to prepare for a “prolonged campaign”.
Saturday, 21 June, marks the ninth day of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, which continues to escalate. In a second attack on Isfahan by Israel, the latter targeted the nuclear research facility in two waves on Saturday night.
Confirming the strikes, Akbar Salehi, Isfahan province’s deputy governor for security affairs, informed that the strikes damaged the facility but said there had been no human casualties.
Iran also launched a new wave of drones and missiles at Israel, but there were no immediate reports of major damage. Speaking about Iran’s strike, the Israeli official called it a “small barrage” that was largely intercepted by Israel’s defences.
The official said part of the reason that Iran’s overnight attack had been relatively small was that the military had been targeting its launchers, and estimates it has now taken out more than 50 per cent of them.
“We’ve been able to take out a large amount of their launchers, creating a bottleneck — we’re making it harder for them to fire towards Israel,” he said.
“Having said all that, I want to say the Iranian regime obviously still has capabilities.”
Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service said Saturday an Iranian drone hit a two-storey building in northern Israel, but there were no casualties.
Later, the Israeli military’s chief spokesman, Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, said the army had been told by Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir to be prepared for a “prolonged campaign” to destroy its targets, including nuclear sites, enrichment facilities and missile infrastructure.
“We are deepening our strikes night after night and we have amazing achievements. We will continue until the threat is removed,” he said.
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