Israel-Iran Conflict: Another Explosion in the Middle East

Even with its proxies gone, its military and leadership degraded, Iran still could intensify the missile war against Israel and strike US and western bases in the region. They could block the Strait of Hormuz and create a global shortage of oil.

- AJAY SINGH

Israel's attack on Iran was never a question of "If" but of "When". The attack was very much anticipated, but its timing took the world, and Iran, by surprise. Iran was in talks with the USA to hammer out a fresh nuclear deal—and the sixth and final round of talks between US and Iranian representatives were scheduled on 15 June. It was widely believed that Israel would attack only after that—if the talks failed. When Israeli jets struck just after midnight on the night of 13 June, it virtually caught them napping. Israel attacked over 100 targets with a strike package of over 200 aircraft—the largest the IAF had ever assembled since their preemptive strike on Egyptian and Syrian air bases in 1967. The attack damaged some of Iran's most important nuclear installations, missile sites, production facilities and military bases and virtually decapitated their military, political and scientific leadership.

The prime target hit by Israel was Iran's main uranium enrichment plant at Natanz, "the beating heart of the Iranian nuclear program." The strike damaged the superstructure and destroyed its electrical system, leading to a massive power outage that damaged the centrifuges where uranium was refined. Parchin, a military complex where nuclear triggers are tested, was also attacked, as were the nuclear sites at Isfahan, Bushehr and the heavy water plant at Arak. Fordow, Iran's most vital nuclear site which contains the centrifuges essential to create weapon grade uranium was also attacked. But it is located almost half a mile deep in the mountains near Qom, and remained relatively unscathed. That plant will require GBU57 Massive Ordinance Penetrators—a 13-ton monster bomb that can only be delivered by US B2 Bombers. Destruction of this facility will degrade Iran's weapon making capabilities completely and it is quite likely that the US will get into the fray to deliver the coup de grace.