The United States and Israel have attempted to disable a large number of Iranian munitions, including missile launchers, by bombing entrances to underground facilities, a CNN review of satellite imagery has found.
CNN reviewed 32 of Iran's missile bases, most of which are buried deep in mountains, and found that all had been hit by airstrikes, which typically targeted tunnel entrances, surface structures or junctions. At least 77 percent of the 107 tunnel entrances analyzed were bombed.
The satellite imagery also captured at least 15 missile launchers destroyed at the bases, according to the report. A rapid U.S.-Israeli airstrike operation seeks to disable the underground facilities where Iran planned to safely reload the missile launchers before driving them out to fire, experts told CNN.
Aerial view of Diego Garcia, Chagos Archipelago.Credit: U.S. Navy via AP
Aerial view of Diego Garcia, Chagos Archipelago.Credit: U.S. Navy via AP
Iran fired two intermediate-range ballistic missiles at the Diego Garcia military base, currently hosting both U.S. and U.K. military forces, in the Indian Ocean early Saturday morning, according to a report by Iran's Mehr news outlet.
There were no hits on the base because one of the missiles failed during flight, and the U.S. fired an interceptor at the other, according to some officials, according to a Wall Street Journal report. It was unclear whether there was an interception, however.
The attack was the first of its kind to use IRBMs, the report said, aiming to reach the remote island in the Indian Ocean, about 4,000 kilometers (2485 miles) away from Iran.
Last month, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Tehran limited its missile range to just 2,000 kilometers. According to the report, an Israeli research center, Alma, previously said that Iran's range is up to 3,000 kilometers, but said that there are reports that Tehran is developing longer-range missiles. The American Iran Watch previously said that the missiles can reach 4,000 kilometers.
The island of Diego Garcia hosts U.S. bombers, nuclear submarines and guided-missile destroyers, the report added.
Israeli military officials say Iran likely fired a cluster missile at central Israel in its latest attack, damaging several buildings across at least four impact sites. No injuries were reported.
In Rishon LeZion, a kindergarten sustained heavy damage, with one classroom completely destroyed.
An impact site in Rishon Letzion, central Israel, on Sunday.Credit: Magen David AdomAn impact site in Rishon Letzion, central Israel, on Sunday.Credit: Magen David Adom
Palestinians mourn at the funeral of four members of the Odeh family who were killed in their car by Israeli security forces during an army operation in Tammun, West Bank, Sunday.Credit: Majdi Mohammed/APPalestinians mourn at the funeral of four members of the Odeh family who were killed in their car by Israeli security forces during an army operation in Tammun, West Bank, Sunday.Credit: Majdi Mohammed/AP
The killing of the Bani Odeh family – parents and two children – by Border Policemen in Tammun this week wasn't just another link in the chain of West Bank violence. It placed a mirror in front of Palestinians and Israelis alike, one that forces them to ask: "How did we get here?"
The prevailing feeling in the West Bank today isn't anger, which would lead to a desire for revenge, but exhaustion, which leads merely to an aspiration to survive. In the past, an incident like the one in Tammun would have sparked demonstrations and clashes and led to a large-scale escalation. But today, the response has been a heavy, almost apathetic silence, stemming from despair.
