Natanz Hit Again: U.S. Air Force strikes Iran's nuclear site; Israel says top Basij intelligence chief killed

(Photo: IDF Spokesperson)

Iran's official Tasnim news agency confirmed this evening (Saturday night, after Shabbat) that the main nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz, which was bombed during Operation "Am Kalavi", was attacked again today. According to the report, the action was attributed to the "criminal American and Zionist enemy." Later, reports in the U.S. said the U.S. Air Force carried out the strike on the facility.

Iran's Atomic Energy Organization went further, saying the American action "constitutes a blatant violation of international laws and commitments, including the convention concerning nuclear safety and security." The Russian Kremlin also condemned the strike, calling it "a violation of international law."

Meanwhile, the IDF spokesperson said that the Air Force, guided by the Intelligence Directorate, completed overnight between Friday and Shabbat a broad strike sortie during which dozens of targets belonging to the Iranian terror regime were hit. As part of the strike, sites used to produce essential components for the development of ballistic missiles by various security bodies within the Iranian regime were attacked.

(Photo: IDF Spokesperson)

Among the sites struck: a central Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps complex for producing ballistic missile components; a storage site for components used to manufacture missiles; a complex belonging to the Ministry of Defense responsible for producing missile fuel; and ⁠a site manufacturing ballistic missile components. Alongside these targets, the IDF struck several air-defense systems of the Iranian terror regime that were deployed across Tehran.

The IDF also confirmed that in a targeted strike carried out earlier this week—in which the commander of the Basij unit, Gholam Reza Soleimani, was eliminated—Esmail Ahmadi, who served as head of the intelligence branch in the Basij unit, was also killed.

In his role, Ahmadi played a central part in advancing and executing terror operations carried out by Basij forces, and he was also responsible for enforcing public order and regime values on behalf of the Revolutionary Guards.

Amid Iran's internal protests—especially in the recent period as they intensified—Ahmadi played a key role in leading major repression efforts, using severe violence, widespread arrests, and force against civilian demonstrators.

Defense Minister Katz: "The campaign will continue"

Defense Minister Israel Katz held a situational assessment today with Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Tamir Yadai, Defense Ministry Director General Maj. Gen. (res.) Amir Baram, Military Intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder, Operations Directorate head Maj. Gen. Itzik Cohen, and other senior IDF officials.

At the end of the meeting, the minister delivered a statement: "The terrorist organization 'Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' currently rules Iran and leads terror activity and missile fire against Israel's home front and countries in the region, as well as repression against Iran's population at home. This week, the intensity of strikes to be carried out by the IDF and the U.S. military against the Iranian terror regime and the infrastructures on which it relies will rise significantly, and the campaign led by U.S. President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will continue".

"We are determined to continue to lead the offensive against the Iranian terror regime, decapitate its commanders, and thwart its strategic capabilities—until every security threat is removed from the State of Israel and from U.S. interests in the region. The IDF is strong and the Israeli home front is strong—and we will not stop until achieving all the war's objectives".