Just two day after Operation Midnight Hammer saw US aircraft obliterate Iran's main nuclear facilities, including the most protected site of Fordo, Israel launched its own attack on the underground enrichment facility's access roads.
The reports, which have not been concurrent with strikes on targets in Tehran, comes just days after President Donald Trump ordered the military to use the so-called "bunker-buster" munitions to penetrate the mountainside site of Fordo. If Israel attacked the site again on Monday, this could mean it no longer needs such ordinances.
Video: The strike on Iran's Evin Prison / Credit: Social media
Located approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Tehran, Fordo was constructed inside a mountain, with tunnels extending roughly 80 meters (262 feet) underground. The facility's fortified design sparked immediate concern among international observers, who viewed its hardened construction as inconsistent with peaceful nuclear purposes.
💥The IDF struck 6 regime airports across western, central, and eastern Iran, destroying runways, underground hangars, refueling aircraft, F-14, F-5 and AH-1 aircraft.
The destroyed aircraft were meant to stop IAF jets. The IAF impaired takeoff capabilities from these airports,… pic.twitter.com/eI1iKw4NqL
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 23, 2025
Under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Iran agreed to convert Fordo into a research and development center, ceasing uranium enrichment activities at the site. The facility was designated for nuclear physics research, with international monitoring maintained through IAEA inspections.
Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, stated that the extent of underground damage at the Fordo site remains unclear at this time.
The Fordo fuel enrichment plant represents one of Iran's most sensitive nuclear installations, built deep underground near the city of Qom. The facility gained international attention when Iran disclosed its existence to the International Atomic Energy Agency in September 2009, following intelligence reports that revealed the site's construction.
Iran International, an outlet linked to the opposition and based abroad, reported that Evin Prison – notorious for holding thousands of political prisoners – was among the targets hit during the Israeli strikes on the capital on Monday.
"Israeli Air Force fighter jets recently conducted precision strikes guided by military intelligence against headquarters and assets belonging to Internal Security Forces and Revolutionary Guards in Tehran, Iran," The IDF said about an hour later, confirming it targeted regime symbols. "These forces comprise various divisions and headquarters responsible on behalf of the Iranian regime's military forces for homeland defense, threat suppression, and regime stability preservation."
The statement went on to say that "as part of the strike operation, forces targeted the 'Basij' headquarters, which constitutes one of the Revolutionary Guards' power bases and is responsible for enforcing the Islamic code and reporting to authorities about citizens who violate it." It further continued, saying "the strikes hit the Alborz Corps, which is responsible for defending multiple cities in Tehran province against various threats and maintaining regime stability, along with the Intelligence and General Security Police of the Internal Security Forces, which also form part of the Iranian regime's military forces. These headquarters hold significance both militarily and governmentally, and striking them damages the Iranian regime's military capabilities."
State television broadcasts in Iran were interrupted twice during the strike, likely due to fears of strikes on broadcasting studios. Al-Mayadeen reported an attack on Building 9 of Iran's state broadcasting authority. A power outage was also reported in one area after a strike damaged a power line.
Earlier on Monday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that over 15 Air Force fighter jets, guided by precise intelligence from the Military Intelligence Directorate, struck sites in Iran's Kermanshah region, destroying multiple launch and storage sites for surface-to-surface missiles aimed at Israel.
As part of efforts to maintain air superiority over Iranian skies, the IDF also targeted six military airfields in western, eastern, and central Iran. The strikes damaged runways, underground hangars, a refueling aircraft, and F-14, F-5, and AH-1 aircraft belonging to the Iranian regime.
These aircraft were intended for use against Israeli Air Force planes to thwart their operations in Iran. The strikes disrupted Iran's ability to operate these airfields and deploy its air forces from them.
