Israel’s military reported Friday it bombed a heavy water reactor in Arak, Iran, and a uranium processing plant in Ardakan, confirmed by Iranian media.
Israeli Airstrikes Target Iranian Nuclear Sites
Israel’s army announced Friday that it had bombed a heavy water reactor in the city of Arak in central Iran and a uranium processing facility in Ardakan. Iranian media confirmed the attacks.
The Israeli military emphasized that these were important facilities within Iran’s nuclear weapons program.
Attack on Arak Reactor
The air force targeted “key infrastructure serving the production of plutonium for weapons” during the raid on the Arak facility, according to the Israeli army. The facility was under construction and previously attacked by Israel in June 2025 during a 12-day campaign of Israeli and American strikes against Iran.
The armed forces stated that “numerous attempts to rebuild the facility by the Iranian terrorist regime were observed, leading to the renewed Israeli attack.”
Civilian Warning and Reactor Description
The Israeli army previously issued a warning to civilians, urging them to leave the area around the facility. Iranian authorities present the Arak facility as a research reactor.
Uranium Processing in Ardakan
The Ardakan facility processes uranium, producing so-called “yellowcake,” a uranium concentrate later purified and enriched for use as nuclear fuel.
Israeli military officials stressed that this is the only facility of its kind in Iran and a crucial element of the “regime’s nuclear weapons program.”
Confirmation from Iranian Sources
Iran’s state news agency IRNA earlier reported strikes on both facilities, attributing them to U.S.-Israeli forces.
Western Concerns and Iranian Denial
The West has long suspected Iran of working to develop nuclear weapons. The regime in Tehran regularly denies this, asserting its nuclear program is for civilian purposes only.
Iran’s Uranium Stockpile
However, Iran has amassed 440 kg of uranium enriched to 60 percent, a concentration exceeding civilian needs and, with relatively short further enrichment, could be used to produce several atomic bombs.
Strategic Objectives of the Attack
The U.S. and Israel state that destroying Iran’s nuclear program is a goal of the attack that began on February 28th.