Eurasia Press & News
Latest Developments
- Prison Gate and Doomsday Clock: The Israeli Air Force carried out extensive airstrikes against Iranian regime targets in Tehran on June 23, reportedly eliminating hundreds of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) members. Israel said that it had dropped over 100 munitions in two hours on several sites, including the gate to the notorious Evin Prison, a clock in Tehran’s “Palestine Square” that purports to count down the days until the destruction of Israel, Iran’s Basij paramilitary militia’s headquarters, the Thar-Allah headquarters of the IRGC, and the headquarters of Iran’s internal security forces. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the IDF’s latest strikes against the Iranian capital had been carried out with “unprecedented force” and warned that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would continue to be “punished” for ballistic missile attacks against Israel.
- Disruption to Fordow Access Roads: Separately, the IDF confirmed that it had struck Iran’s Fordow nuclear enrichment site to limit access to the facility. The Israeli strike marked the second time the facility has been targeted since the United States carried out a June 21 bombing run using 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs) dropped by B-2 Spirit stealth bombers. The United States is assessing the extent to which Iran’s nuclear weapons program was damaged by the strikes, which additionally targeted the Isfahan and Natanz nuclear facilities.
- 40 Minutes in Shelters: The IDF’s renewed strikes in Tehran followed several waves of ballistic missile attacks against Israeli civilian population centers on June 23. Israel said that the Islamic Republic had intentionally launched six to seven projectiles in four waves spanning 40 minutes, which kept Israelis sheltered in place for longer than at any other time during the current conflict. Israel’s Magen David Adom ambulance service confirmed that there were no injuries reported from the attack. The Israel Electric Corporation said there were power outages reported in several towns due to a missile impact near a power station in southern Israel.
FDD Expert Response
“With this latest wave of strikes, Israel is targeting some of the regime’s most hated symbols: the IRGC, lifeline of the ayatollahs; the Basij, who beat, torture, and imprison protesters; and Evin Prison, a daily hell for countless detainees. Iranians now have a historic opportunity to bring down the clerics who rule them.” — Mark Dubowitz, CEO
“As the Iranian people have endured decades of repression under a brutal theocracy, this campaign can be seen as Israel translating its stated solidarity with the Iranian people into tangible action. Yet one of the regime’s most entrenched instruments of repression remains intact: the so-called Islamic Republic judiciary, which condemns thousands to death annually. Operating in lockstep with the Basij and the armed forces, it constitutes a core pillar of state violence and social control.” — Janatan Sayeh, Research Analyst
“There are several reasons that could explain Israel’s decision to limit Iran’s access to Fordow. Chiefly, Israel may want to ensure maximum destruction of the facility by denying Iran access to control the damage at the site. Israel employed similar tactics in Gaza and Lebanon against underground infrastructure. Furthermore, limiting Iran’s access to the facility denies it the ability to assess the extent of the damage, effectively keeping the regime in the dark about one of its most prized nuclear sites.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal
