"Significant Damage with Limited Operations"
On the 26th (local time), Israel reportedly carried out an airstrike on Iran, targeting a solid-fuel mixing facility that plays a central role in the ballistic missile program.
According to the American internet media Axios, citing Israeli sources, Israel's retaliatory strike destroyed a key component of Iran's ballistic missile program. They reported that the destruction of equipment severely damaged Iran's missile stockpiling capability and could prevent Iran from launching additional large-scale missile attacks against Israel.
According to them, Israel attacked 12 "Yu-seong mixers" used to produce solid fuel for long-range ballistic missiles, which constitute most of Iran's missile arsenal. These mixers are highly sophisticated equipment that Iran cannot produce domestically and must purchase from China. A senior U.S. official also confirmed that Iran's missile production capability has been paralyzed.
David Albright, former UN weapons inspector and head of the Institute for Science and International Security, and Decker Eveleth, an analyst at the U.S. think tank CNA, each analyzed commercial satellite images and concluded that the facility used for mixing solid fuel for Iran's ballistic missiles was struck by Israel's airstrike. Eveleth said Israel may have dealt a significant blow to Iran's large-scale missile production capability with a limited operation, adding, "The strike appears to have been very precise."
The Iranian military stated in a press release that Israel's attack was carried out in Iraqi airspace, causing limited damage to several radar systems, which are currently under repair. The Iranian military did not mention any damage to missile or drone production facilities.
Israeli sources confirmed that the airstrikes took place in Syrian and Iraqi airspace, some of which were close to the Iran-Iraq border. The Israeli Air Force claimed to have struck an Iranian drone production factory and carried out a symbolic airstrike on the Parchin facility, which was previously used for nuclear weapons research and development.
The IAEA stated that Iran's nuclear program was not affected by Israel's airstrike. Rafael Grossi, IAEA Director General, posted on X (formerly Twitter) that "Iran's nuclear facilities were not impacted. IAEA inspectors continue their safe and important work," urging "caution and restraint regarding actions that could threaten the safety and security of nuclear and other radioactive materials."
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