Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, confirmed that Israel targeted the Imam Hassan military base in Kermanshah province.
According to the report, multiple explosions were heard at the base, and a thick plume of smoke now envelops the area following the attacks.
Israel’s recent airstrikes on Iran, which targeted nuclear sites and key military figures, suggest a dual objective: not only delaying Tehran’s nuclear program but also aiming to destabilize the Islamic Republic establishment, a Reuters analysis said.
The attacks struck Iran’s nuclear facilities at Esfahan and Natanz, missile factories, senior military commanders, and nuclear scientists, dealing a blow to both Iran’s military capabilities and its regional prestige.
Reuters interprets the targeting of senior officials as an attempt to undermine the security apparatus supporting Iran’s leadership.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly addressed the Iranian people, urging them to rise up, echoing past Israeli operations that contributed to political shifts in Lebanon and Syria.
However, experts caution that deep-rooted opposition to Israel within Iran and strong internal security forces make overthrowing the government uncertain. Analysts also say Israel lacks the capability to fully dismantle Iran’s nuclear program alone and may rely on prolonged strikes and potential US cooperation.
Israeli military officials said on Saturday that Israel has attacked more than 150 targets across Iran using hundreds of munitions, including significant strikes on two nuclear sites, Reuters reported.
An Israeli military spokesperson said the aerial route to Tehran is "effectively open," indicating enhanced operational reach over Iranian airspace.
Iran fired around 200 ballistic missiles towards Israel in four barrages, he added.
He added that nine senior nuclear Iranian scientists were killed in the attacks.
The officials confirmed that the Esfahan and Natanz nuclear facilities sustained substantial damage, and repairs at both sites are expected to take several weeks. Israel has not yet operated in Fordow nuclear facility, he added.
