Recent satellite images indicate Iran's activity at the Fordo nuclear enrichment facility, highlighting their immediate response to the U.S. strikes, but showing no significant efforts towards repairs or reconstruction.
Iran's Fordo Facility Undergoes Scrutiny Post-Strike: New Satellite Evidence Revealed
Iran's Fordo Facility Undergoes Scrutiny Post-Strike: New Satellite Evidence Revealed
Satellite imagery captures Iran's assessment efforts at the Fordo nuclear site following recent U.S. bombings, showing no signs of imminent repairs.
Recent satellite imagery indicates a surge of activity at Iran's Fordo nuclear enrichment facility subsequent to U.S. airstrikes executed on June 22. The imagery, provided by Maxar Technologies, reveals the construction of new access roads leading to areas where B-2 bombers conducted bombings, and other vehicles including cranes and excavators appear to be inspecting the damage.
Joseph S. Bermudez, a senior expert in imagery analysis, noted that these efforts seem focused on evaluating the extent of the damage rather than initiating any repairs. "The images are showing us that the Iranians are beginning the process of investigating what happened and what level of damage the facility has," he stated. While President Trump claimed the facility was “obliterated,” various assessments present a more cautious view.
After the attack which involved 12 Massive Ordnance Penetrators, evidence was noted of Iran's immediate inspections. Experts suggest the newly built roads and machinery observed in recent images are primarily for assessment purposes. Peter McDonald, a director at Viper Applied Science, emphasized that the current operations suggest a focus on examining damage rather than repairing or restoring the facility.
In a related development, Israel confirmed its strikes on Fordo aimed at cutting off access routes to the site. By June 27, satellite photos revealed that Iran had already started filling a significant crater at the compound's entrance caused by Israeli bombardment.
Bermudez further commented on the absence of repair operations, suggesting that the observed activity lacks evidence of major reconstruction efforts. "You would expect to see more vehicles, different types of vehicles," he added, indicating a continued focus on evaluation rather than recovery.
The recent satellite observations underscore the complexity of the situation as Iran grapples with the aftermath of the strikes while assessing the damaged infrastructure at its controversial enrichment facility.
