On the night of Tuesday (18), the Israeli Air Force carried out one of its largest air offensives in recent years against strategic targets in Iran. According to military sources, 40 fighter jets participated in the operation, launching over 100 precision munitions at dozens of military targets spread across Tehran and other regions.
One of the main targets was an inactive nuclear reactor in the Arak region, whose construction began in 1997 but was halted due to international pressure. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the reactor’s containment structure—crucial for plutonium production—was hit to render any future military use unfeasible.
The operation, based on detailed intelligence, is part of an ongoing IDF campaign to weaken Iran’s nuclear program, which, despite past agreements, is still seen as a potential threat by Israel and its Western allies.
Although Iran announced in recent years a conversion of the reactor to limit its military potential, Israeli authorities claim Tehran deliberately left the process unfinished to use the reactor as political leverage.
The strike specifically targeted the component used for plutonium production, aiming to prevent its reuse in nuclear weapons development.
