Israel Strikes Iran’s Nuclear Research Headquarters in Major Escalation

IDF Confirms Attacks on Missile Production Sites and SPND Facility in Tehran Amid Rising Tensions

Tel Aviv : The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Friday that it conducted a series of powerful airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure, marking a major escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two nations. The strikes, carried out Thursday night, focused on critical Iranian military facilities in and around Tehran, including the headquarters of the Defense Innovation and Research Organization (SPND), which Israel claims is central to Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions.

According to a statement posted on the IDF’s official social media account, over 60 Israeli Air Force fighter jets were involved in the operation, deploying around 120 precision-guided weapons. The targets included multiple missile production units, research centers, and industrial sites linked to the Iranian Ministry of Defense.

“These bases, built over several years, were at the heart of Iran’s missile production network,” the IDF said in its statement. “They served as industrial hubs for developing and manufacturing missile components and raw materials for rocket engines.”

One of the key targets of the operation was the SPND headquarters in Tehran, a facility established in 2011 by Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the architect of Iran’s nuclear weapons program, who was assassinated in 2020. The IDF stated that the SPND is actively engaged in researching advanced military technologies and weapon systems.

The Israeli military also claimed it struck a separate undisclosed site described as “essential to Iran’s nuclear weapons development efforts.”

In addition to the airstrikes, the IDF reported that four unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched from Iran toward Israel were intercepted overnight by Israeli defense systems. The military did not specify whether the drones caused any damage or casualties.

As the conflict entered its eighth consecutive day, the IDF raised the security alert across the country. Missile sirens were triggered in several regions following the detection of additional missile launches from Iran. In response, the Israeli Home Front Command issued an urgent advisory to the public.

“The defense systems are actively countering the threat,” the IDF warned. “Upon hearing warning sirens, citizens must immediately enter designated safe zones and remain there until further notice. Do not exit unless instructed.”

The IDF emphasized that while Israel’s missile defense systems are advanced, they are not impenetrable, and citizens must continue to follow safety protocols issued by the authorities.

These developments come amid increasing international concern over the expanding military confrontation between Israel and Iran, with both sides exchanging direct attacks and threatening broader regional instability. The situation remains volatile, and observers fear further escalation if diplomatic efforts do not intervene swiftly.