The Lead
An official United States source confirmed Tuesday evening that the US military is currently conducting strikes against targets in Iran, an operation that has reportedly been underway for at least two hours. The confirmation comes amid reports that the 'Mount Hamakosh' nuclear facility has been added to the American target bank, signaling a potential escalation in the ongoing kinetic conflict between Washington and Tehran.
The United States military has launched a new wave of strikes against Iranian infrastructure, according to an official source who spoke with ABC. The source confirmed that the offensive operations have been active for approximately two hours as of Tuesday night. This development follows a period of heightened tension and previous rounds of American strikes aimed at degrading Iranian strategic capabilities.
Targeting the Nuclear Program
According to a report from Aram News citing a US source, the American target bank has been expanded to include the 'Mount Hamakosh' nuclear facility. The report suggests that initial military considerations focus on striking access routes, power systems, and ventilation infrastructure supporting the site before any decision is made regarding the tunnel systems themselves. This approach appears designed to neutralize the facility's operational capacity while potentially avoiding a direct strike on hardened underground structures in the immediate term.
Strategic Context and Expanded List
The expansion of the target list reportedly includes several other critical sites associated with Iran's nuclear ambitions. These include the tunnel system in Isfahan—estimated to contain over 200 kg of uranium enriched to 60%—as well as the 'Talkan 2' site in Parchin and centrifuge production facilities in Karaj. The US source indicated that any Iranian attempt to rehabilitate the Natanz or Fordow facilities would trigger additional strike waves against supporting infrastructure and supply routes. This posture reflects a 'security-first' strategy aimed at preventing Iranian nuclear breakout through sustained kinetic pressure on both declared and undeclared sites.
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