Arabic version: الولايات المتحدة وإسرائيل تستهدفان المنشآت البحرية والنووية الإيرانية
According to BBC News,
A series of strikes by the United States and Israel have resulted in significant damage to Iranian naval vessels and nuclear sites, according to satellite images reviewed by BBC Verify. At least 11 Iranian naval ships have been destroyed or damaged since the attacks began on Saturday.
Images from the Konarak naval base and the Bandar Abbas facility, which sits on the Strait of Hormuz and houses the headquarters of the Iranian navy, show smoke rising from multiple vessels. Among the ships affected is the IRINS Makran, Iran’s largest naval vessel, which served as a drone carrier. Other vessels reportedly destroyed include the IRIS Bayandor, IRIS Naghdi, and IRIS Jamaran.
US President Donald Trump stated that the goal of the strikes includes the annihilation of the Iranian navy, listing the force’s destruction as one of America’s three main goals. The head of US Central Command, Adm. Brad Cooper, claimed that the attacks have effectively neutralized the Iranian navy’s ability to conduct conventional operations, although Iran may still utilize unconventional methods such as drones and mini-submarines.
In addition to naval targets, the strikes have also impacted Iranian missile bases and nuclear facilities. Satellite images reveal damage at several missile sites, including the southern Khorgu and north-western Tabriz bases. Trump emphasized the destruction of missile bases and the prevention of nuclear weapons development as key objectives of the military campaign.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in civilian casualties, with reports indicating at least 160 fatalities, including children, after a school in Minab in southern Iran was struck. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency has reported 1,097 civilian deaths since the strikes commenced. As the situation evolves, BBC Verify will continue to monitor developments through satellite imagery.
