Fordow Hit Again: Israel Targets Iran’s Underground Nuclear Facility in Retaliatory Strike
Israel launched a fresh wave of military strikes across Iran Monday morning. The attack was reportedly in retaliation for Iran’s recent missile attack on Israeli territory. A sharp escalation in the high-stakes conflict that now appears to involve the United States, Israel, and Iran in an increasingly volatile triangle.
Israeli warplanes specifically targeted the Fordow nuclear site for a second time in 48 hours. Days after U.S. bunker-buster bombs reportedly inflicted severe damage on several Iranian nuclear facilities.
Second Strike on Fordow: Disrupting Access and Operations
According to the Associated Press, Israeli munitions targeted roadways and infrastructure surrounding the facility. An attempt, it appears, to block emergency access and disrupt any recovery or repair operations.
Fordow lies beneath a mountain near Qom. The facility houses thousands of uranium-enriching centrifuges and is considered one of the most fortified nuclear sites in the world. The U.S. strike on Saturday was carried out using GBU-57 “bunker buster” bombs, meant to penetrate the deep underground structure. That operation, known as Operation Midnight Hammer, reportedly delivered “extremely severe” damage to Iran’s nuclear program, though Tehran has downplayed its impact.
Evin Prison and Revolutionary Guards HQ
Beyond Fordow, Israel’s Monday air campaign also hit Evin Prison in Tehran. A notorious facility known for housing political prisoners and the security headquarters of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Israel’s Defense Ministry was clear in its justification, stating:
“The Iranian dictator will be punished with full force for attacking the Israeli home front.”
The retaliation follows Iran’s Sunday strikes on Israel, which itself came in response to Saturday night’s U.S.-led airstrikes. The regional tit-for-tat appears to be entering a dangerous new phase, with the Fordow facility becoming ground zero in the international nuclear standoff.
Iran Vows Vengeance: U.S. and Israel in Crosshairs
Iranian officials were quick to condemn the renewed strikes, vowing retaliation for Israel and the United States.
“The criminal U.S. must know… we will never back down,” warned Iran’s new armed forces chief Abdolrahim Mousavi, in a statement carried by Al Jazeera.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reposted an earlier speech on X, reiterating:
“Israel must be punished, and it is being punished right now.”
Iranian state TV also delivered ominous warnings aimed at U.S. leadership. Anchor Mehdi Khanalizadeh accused President Donald Trump of opting to “spill the blood of your soldiers,” claiming up to 50,000 U.S. casualties could result if war continues.
IAEA: “Very Significant” Damage Likely at Fordow
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also weighed in on Monday, suggesting that Saturday’s airstrikes may have dealt a severe blow to Iran’s uranium enrichment capabilities.
“Given the explosive payload utilized and the extreme vibration-sensitive nature of centrifuges, very significant damage is expected to have occurred,” IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said in a statement to the agency’s 35-nation board.
That damage, paired with Israel’s renewed effort to degrade the site’s accessibility further, may delay Iran’s nuclear ambitions but could also increase regional instability, experts warn.
Moscow Steps In: Putin Denounces U.S. and Israeli Strikes
Meanwhile, diplomatic tensions escalated as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Putin condemned the U.S. and Israeli airstrikes as “absolutely unprovoked aggression.”
“This has no basis and no justification,” Putin said, offering support to Tehran and calling for cooperation to de-escalate the crisis.
Where This Is Headed
Fordow has become ground zero in a rapidly escalating conflict. Each new strike tightens the noose, leaving less room for diplomacy and more space for disaster. The road to de-escalation is narrowing fast, and the world is holding its breath as the smoke rises, yet again, from the heart of Iran.
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