US Strike Targets Iran’s Nuclear Sites, Senior Regime Leaders Eliminated

War Summary, Day 622: The U.S. struck the nuclear plant at Fordow, Iran now has to choose whether to strike back at U.S. or survive, missile attacks in a sharp decline, seven areas of impact: zero fatalities, Iran began to use cluster bombs in attacks in Israel, over 1,000 UAVs launched at Israel, over half of Iran’s missile launchers gone, senior Iranian regime commanders eliminated, significant IDF advancements in Gaza, Khameini instructed Hezbollah to attack Israel, Hezbollah is too scared.

By Mrs Bruria Efune

53 held captive in Gaza.
31 hostages confirmed murdered held in Gaza.
148 living hostages rescued.
54 hostage bodies rescued.
1,881 Israelis killed.
432 fallen soldiers and police in the battle in Gaza.
88 fallen soldiers in Northern Israel.
18 fallen soldiers and police in Judea & Samaria.
32,325 estimated projectiles fired at Israel.
12,000 Israelis estimated remain displaced from their homes.
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.

Top Headlines:

– The U.S. struck the nuclear plant at Fordow
– Iran now has to choose whether to strike back at U.S., or survive
– Missile attacks in a sharp decline
– Seven areas of impact: zero fatalities
– Soroka Hospital suffers severe damage to the building
– Iran began to use cluster bombs in attacks in Israel
– Over 1,000 UAVs launched at Israel
– Over half of Iran’s missile launchers gone
– Senior Iranian regime commanders eliminated, connected to arming Hamas and Hezbollah
– Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow nuclear plants are assumed destroyed
– Significant IDF advancements in Gaza
– Khameini instructed Hezbollah to attack Israel – Hezbollah is too scared

(As always, if the source isn’t mentioned below, it’s from a public IDF or government update.)

Iran – Homefront:

We are now 24 hours without any missile attacks on Israel.

Missile Attacks

Thursday saw four rounds of missile attacks, with two on Friday, and just one on Shabbat, for a Toal of around 70 missiles. Seven impacts were made. Israeli air defenses intercepted over 90% of all missiles.

On Thursday, a missile landed on a building in Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva just hours after it was evacuated. Only a handful of light injuries were caused, in what was widely declared to be an open miracle. Damages was caused to other buildings, and there is concern that vital building foundations were damaged. Following the attack, over 400 patients were relocated to different hospitals outside Be’er Sheva. The hospital mostly closed to new patients, and several small emergency rooms were opened throughout the city as a temporary replacement.

IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said there is no doubt that Iran intentionally targeted Soroka Hospital. Iran’s foreign minister in turn claimed that Israel had military bases in the hospital (this should be obvious, but: there are no military bases anywhere near the hospital).

In the same Thursday attack, a direct impact in Holon and Ramat Gan caused extensive damage to buildings and left 66 injured, with 6 in serious condition. In Holon, Home Front Command chief Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo said the low rate of casualties were a result of “extraordinary” civilian behavior, in which everyone went to shelter when the siren was activated.

In a Friday attack, a missile impacted Be’er Sheva, narrowly missing a residential apartment complex. It made a significant crater in the road, and shattered windows in the vicinity.

In a second attack on Friday, a missile impacted in Haifa, resulting in two serious injuries, including to a teenage boy.

The attacks on Friday would have been much larger: The Israeli Air Force destroyed 35 missile launchers moments before they fired.

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Cluster Bombs

Thursday brought the first known incident of Iran using a missile with a cluster bomb warhead, causing an impact in the central town of Azor. A second cluster bomb hit Be’er Sheva on Friday, impacting a preschool (which thank G-d was empty), playground, and road.

With these missiles, the warhead splits while descending, at around 7 kilometers altitude. At that point it spreads around 20 smaller munitions in a radius of around 8 kilometers.

While the missiles with cluster bombs may cause a wider radius of damage, the individual munitions have just 2.5 kg of explosives each, and cause less damage upon impact than a large missile. Civilians are warned to stay far away from these explosives if they see one, and call the police, since they can explode at a delayed time.

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UAVs

The Iranian regime is turning heavily to UAVs (attack drones). On Shabbat alone, Israel shot down 40 UAVs launched from Iran.

For the first time, a UAV made impact in Israel, in the town of Beit Shean. The UAV hit a home, where it caused significant damage, but no casualties, thank G-d.

This is the first impact after Iran launched over 1,000 UAVs to attack Israel.

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On Thursday, 5 days after the impact in Bat Yam, rescue forces found the body of Maria (Marina) Peshkurova, 31, underneath rubble of the collapsed building.

Iran – Rising Lion:

Earlier today, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir announced that Israel must prepare for a prolonged war against Iran to eliminate a growing existential threat. He revealed that Iran had reached operational nuclear capabilities, and amassed 2,500 missiles with plans to expand to 8,000 within two years, prompting Israel’s preemptive strike.

The initial surprise attacks successfully eliminated top Iranian commanders, damaged nuclear infrastructure, and destroyed about half of Iran’s missile launchers. Zamir emphasized that the IDF had prepared for this campaign for years and acted at a critical moment to avoid future disadvantage. While warning of difficult days ahead, he stressed the strength of Israel’s home front, the importance of national unity, and his confidence in ultimate victory.

IAF chief Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar described the constant presence of surveillance UAVs over Iran, and said that Iranian soldiers are terrified, and “don’t function” when the Israeli drones are overhead.

On Thursday, Israel Hayom reported a contradicting source from Israel’s security establishment, who said that the war is going at a far quicker pace than expected, and may be over in a few days. If this source is correct, Zamir was either trying to confuse Iran, or hinting that Israel may be under ballistic missile fire for an extended time, until all launchers are destroyed, or the regime collapses.

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Nuclear Targets

Around 3:00 am (Israel) U.S. President Trump announced:

“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!”

A U.S. official told Reuters that B-2 bombers took part in the strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, meaning, the U.S. used the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) needed to destroy the Fordow fortress, which lay 80 meters under a mountain.

This comes after Reuters reported that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu told Trump that the small window of opportunity to destroy Fordow would soon close.

The U.S.’s strike was in full coordination with Israel. Ahead of the U.S. strikes, Israel’s Air Force cleared all Iranian air defenses around Fordow and the other sites.

Now we wait to see if the Iranian regime carries out threats they made in recent days. Trump’s message was a clear signal to Iran that if Iran doesn’t respond, the U.S. won’t continue to attack.

The regime issued many public threats against the USA, if they choose to join in the attack, posting them on X (Twitter). In addition to threatening to strike American bases in the Middle East, they threaten to close the Strait of Hormuz.

In theory, closing the Strait of Hormuz would trigger a global oil crisis, crash markets, and likely lead to a wider military confrontation with the U.S. and their allies. It would also crash Iran’s markets and further destabilize the regime’s own control. Israel has been targeting Iran’s Air Force capabilities (and by some rumors, Navy too) to limit their ability to close the Strait of Hormuz.

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Missiles & Drones

In the first 8 days of the war, the IAF conducted over 1,000 (!!) sorties over Iran, in which they heavily targeted Iranian ballistic missile launch and storage sites, amongst nuclear and regime targets.

Iran’s forces have been pushed eastward and southward due to the strikes—but the IAF is hunting them down wherever they go. In several instances, soldiers were seen fleeing launch sites and launchers mounted on trucks at the sound of approaching IAF jets or UAVs.

The IAF estimates to have destroyed over 200 ballistic missile launchers, which may be more than half of what Iran had at the start of the war. Many of these launchers were already primed with missiles and prepared to launch when they were struck, resulting in decreased attacks against Israel.

The IAF also targeted Iranian engineering equipment, and dozens of soldiers who were attempting to repair ballistic missile launch sites in Iran.

The IAF also hit around 950 explosive UAVs before they were launched—this is in addition to the 1,000 launched UAVs which were launched towards Israel but destroyed before making impact.

On Shabbat, the IAF destroyed three more Iranian F-14 fighter jets in central Iran, for a total of five. These aircraft did not manage to threaten Israel directly, but Iran could use them in attempts to close the Strait of Hormuz. Destroying these, and UAV storages in the areas, reduces Iran’s ability to do so.

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Regime Targets

Following Iran’s strike on Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva, Defense Minister Israel Katz began directing threats directly towards Iran’s leader, Ali Khamenei, saying that he will be held accountable for his war crimes. He added that new strikes will also be directed at destabilizing the Ayatollah regime.

Chief of Military Intelligence, Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder, added that Iran’s military commanders must now be “hunted down wherever they flee.”

Israel conducted multiple high-profile assassinations of senior IRGC Quds Force and military officials in the last three days. The most prominent three:

1. Saeed Izadi, head of the Quds Force’s Palestine Corps: Izadi was one of the masterminds behind the October 7 massacre, closely tied to Hamas leaders Sinwar and Deif. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir hailed his elimination as a key moment in the multi-front war.

Following Izadi’s elimination, the IDF released intelligence documents found in a Hamas tunnel under the European Hospital in Gaza, revealing direct correspondence between Izadi and Mohammed Sinwar. The documents exposed two major attempts by Izadi to transfer arms to Hamas after October 7th, 2023. Both attempts, which would have totaled in $46 million dollars of weapons, were thwarted by Israeli intelligence efforts.

2. Behnam Shahriyari, head of Quds Force Unit 190: Eliminated in western Iran. Shahriyari was responsible for smuggling weapons and funds to Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and others, posing a major threat to Israel. His death significantly weakens these groups’ rearmament potential.
3. Aminpour Joudaki, commander of the IRGC’s 2nd UAV Regiment: He had taken over key drone operations following the earlier elimination of Mohammad-Bagher Taherpour.

Kahmeini has been quick to replace eliminated military leaders, some of which have already been replaced for the third time. However, replacements are not as prepared and knowledgable as their predecessors.

The IAF also carried out strikes against the Iranian regime’s internal security infrastructure, directly threatening the regime’s ability to maintain control at home. Two key sites which were hit in Iran: Iran’s Internal Security Headquarters, and the headquarters of its Special Internal Security Unit.

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Nuclear targets by Israel

In the last three days, Israel also struck various sites in Iran, targeting Iran’s nuclear capabilities, Israel’s attacks in the last three days focused on five areas:

1. The Arak Heavy Water Reactor: On Thursday, the IAF targeted this reactor for the first time, with a focus on the reactor’s containment structure, a key component for plutonium production. The reactor was partially built, but was set to become operational next year. Residents of Arak and Khondab were warned to evacuate before the attack.
2. Natanz Nuclear Facility: After largely destroying enrichment capabilities in Natanz, this IAF strike hit a facility which housed unique components and equipment used for the development of nuclear weapons, and projects that enable the acceleration of the nuclear weapons program. The U.S. struck this site again, presumably giving the final blow. We’ll find out more soon.
3. Isfahan Nuclear Facility: An earlier strike (June 13) destroyed uranium conversion infrastructure and labs. Follow-up strikes aimed at deepening the damage to Iran’s nuclear capabilities at six sites within the facility (according to the IAEA). The U.S. struck this site again, presumably giving the final blow. We’ll find out more soon.
4. SPND Nuclear Project Headquarters: Also a follow-up strike, but the first we’re hearing of. SPND functions as Iran’s central hub for the research and development of advanced military technologies. It was established in 2011 by Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the architect of Iran’s nuclear weapons program. One of the targeted SPND sites was reportedly used to manufacture a component essential to the regime’s nuclear ambitions.
5. The IAF also struck dozens of smaller sites connected to the development of weapons components, for the weaponization of a nuclear bomb.

Gaza:

Thank G-d, no fallen heroes were announced in the last three days!

Two senior Gazan terrorists were recently eliminated:

• Ibrahim Abu-Shamala, chief of Hamas’s finances, formerly an aide to former deputy military wing chief Marwan Issa, was eliminated in a strike in central Gaza on Tuesday. Abu-Shamala planned and oversaw the military wing’s budget during the war and implemented it by transferring and smuggling terrorist funding worth millions of dollars into the Gaza Strip for the military wing.
• Ali Saadi Wasfi al-Agha, a senior commander of the Mujahideen Brigades in southern Gaza, was eliminated in an airstrike. Al-Agha was involved in the abduction, murder, and burial of Israeli hostages Gadi Haggai and Judith Weinstein, whose bodies were recently recovered from his home. He was expected to succeed the group’s leader, who was eliminated earlier this month. Al-Agha also directed terror activity under Iranian guidance, recruited operatives, and led attacks on IDF forces.

Last week, IDF forces destroyed more than 500 terror infrastructures in Gaza. The Air Force, while attacking Iran, struck over 300 terror targets in Gaza.

Four IDF divisions continue operations in Gaza, with advancements in northern Gaza in the city of Jabaliya, and in the Shejaya, and Daraj and Tuffah neighborhoods of Gaza City. In Shejaya, troops found and destroyed a 500 meter long tunnel under a residential neighborhood.

Troops also advanced further in central Gaza in areas around the Netzarim Corridor, and in Southern Gaza in Khan Younis.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation now distributes between one to two million meals in Gaza per day, from four distribution sites.

Lebanon:

On Thursday, Hezbollah threatened “severe consequences” if Israel were to assassinate Khameini. A Lebanese government official later told Al-Jadeed TV that Hezbollah will not intervene in the Israel-Iran war, even if the U.S. joins the conflict.

Meanwhile, western sources told Amit Segal (of Israel’s News 12) that Khameini had instructed Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem to join the fighting and launch missiles at Israel—but Qassem refused to engage, fearing that the IDF will destroy Hezbollah in response.

Segal says that there are those in Israel who are hoping that Hezbollah will take the bait and fire a few missiles, so that Israel can finish them off.

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Over the last three days, Israel carried out several preemptive airstrikes in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah weapons stockpiles in southern Lebanon, and terrorists who were in violation of the ceasefire agreement.

At least four terrorists were eliminated in airstrikes, amongst them:

• Mohammed Khader al-Husseini, commander of Hezbollah’s firepower unit in the Litani River area, was killed in Shabriha (near Tyre). He led rocket attacks on Nahariya, Haifa, and other towns and worked to rebuild Hezbollah’s rocket arsenal.
• Yassin Izz a-Din, commander of Hezbollah’s rocket artillery unit in the Litani sector, was killed in a drone strike in Barish. He was behind many attacks on northern Israel and also attempted to restore artillery capabilities.
• Mohammad Ahmad Khreiss, head of Hezbollah’s anti-tank unit in the Shebaa area, was killed in the Nabatieh region. He directed an anti-tank missile attack on Mount Dov on April 26, 2024, which killed IDF civilian contractor Sharif Sawaed.

The Israeli Navy also joined in, and struck a facility of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force in Naqoura, used for planning terror attacks. The strike followed intelligence gathered through interrogation of a captured Hezbollah member.

The following dedication was intended for the 23rd of Sivan. I apologize for not sending a report on Thursday, but attach the dedication to the open miracles that happened on that day.

Click here for Trump’s address to the nation.

Click here for full coverage of Operation Rising Lion.

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In honor of Mordechai HaTzaddik and Queen Esther HaMalka, may their merit protect us, and may Hashem continue to bring light, salvation, and reversal of all negative decrees for the Jewish people, as He did in their time. Am Yisrael Chai Dedicated by Yakov & Cena Abergel in the merit of their Children and Grandchildren

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