Israel claims killing nine Iranian nuclear scientists in opening strikes
Revealing details of the ongoing operation, the IDF described it as a critical blow to Iran's nuclear ambitions.
According to the IDF, the nine scientists were instrumental in advancing Iran's efforts to acquire a nuclear weapon.
"All the scientists and experts who were eliminated were significant sources of knowledge in the Iranian nuclear project and had decades of cumulative experience in the development of nuclear weapons," the military stated.
Those killed in the strikes were identified as Fereydoon Abbasi, a nuclear engineering expert; Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, a physicist; Akbar Motalebi Zadeh, a chemical engineering expert; Saeed Barji, an expert in materials engineering; Amir Hassan Fakhahi, a physicist; Abd al-Hamid Minoushehr, an expert in reactor physics; Mansour Asgari, a physicist; Ahmad Reza Zolfaghari Daryani, a nuclear engineer; and Ali Bakhouei Katirimi, a mechanical expert.
The IDF added that many of them were considered successors to Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the late nuclear scientist widely regarded as the "father of the Iranian nuclear project," who was assassinated in 2020.
The Israeli military said that the scientists were killed in coordinated and simultaneous airstrikes on Tehran on Friday morning, in the same wave of attacks that also eliminated dozens of senior military commanders, including six top officials.
According to the IDF, these strikes were the result of years-long clandestine intelligence gathering focused on Iran's top nuclear minds.
"The elimination of the scientists was made possible following in-depth intelligence research that intensified over the past year as part of a classified and compartmentalised IDF plan," the IDF said.
It noted that dozens of intelligence researchers had worked on a secretive operation for years, tracking key figures in Iran's nuclear apparatus.
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These are the 'game plan' of 'deterrence', instituted by Iran, in the changing geo strategic construct of the Middle East, to checkmate Israeli threat and Israel's systematic neutralisation of Iran's 'axis of resistance', resulting in the current offensive and decapacitation of Iran's nuclear assets. Both issues have key pointers for India's asymmetric security policy of 'Forward Defence' or 'Forward Deterrence' is a strategic initiative, that commenced in the mid 1970s, to stop external support to Iran's internal dissidents. This led to Iran reaching out to Iraqi Shiite groups, Al Sadr family in Lebanon and the Assad regime in Syria. Gen Soleimani of IRGC, under the patronage of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, created the 'axis of resistance' of 'proxies', in target countries. Iran concurrently built up stand-off strike capability through ballistic missiles, UAVs and offensive cyber. The 'Quds' Force of IRGC, raised in 1988, controlled these regional proxies. 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Also, precision aerial strikes destroyed their large inventory of rockets and missiles, while targeted killing eliminated Hezbollah's senior leadership, including its Secretary General Hassan Nasrullah and his successor. The October 2024 ground offensive against Hezbollah, was the proverbial last nail in the impact was visible, as in December 2024 , Hezbollah was unable to support the President Assad and his Government, during the rebel offensive in Syria. It led to the fall of the Assad and ended decades old Iran – Syria relationship. Thus, Houthis in Yemen were the only remaining proxy for Iran's future geo political last and most critical step for Israel was to get Iran in a direct engagement. It achieved that by bombing of the Iranian embassy complex in Syria, in April 2024. It was escalatory and the war that for long had been fought through proxies and targeted killings had now come into the crumbling of the proxies in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, now gave Israel the opportunity to conduct aerial strikes on Iran, with impunity. And the rest is history. In which the 12 day missile exchanges, culminated with US attack on nuclear facilities. And Mr Netanyahu, managed to secure freedom from Iran's nuclear 'Sword of Damocles'.India strategic mandarins can take pointers from this protracted engagement. Firstly, for instituting an effective 'deterrence' strategy for India, with 'out of box' options, of exploiting societal fissures, use of cyber, social networking platforms and emerging technologies for effective perception management in adversarial countries and pro-active diplomacy for global support. A shortcoming noticeable post 'Op Sindoor'. Secondly, unanimous political consensus, across party lines, on issues of national security. 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And its domination of Babel-Mandeb strait, gave it the capability to interdict key global SLOCs. As relations with Israel got further strained, Iran deepened support to Hamas and the Hezbollah, to empower them to open a second front in case of a conflict with Israel. There are also instances of Iran supporting non state actors, terrorists and rebel groups, to target adversarial countries. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas Prices In Dubai Might Be More Affordable Than You Think Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Quote The marginalisation of these proxies by Israel, is a lesson on strategic foresight and machinations. The Israeli Prime Minister at the nadir of his political career, exploited the opportunity that arose from the heinous attack on bordering Israeli kibbutz's by Hamas, on 07 Oct 2023. Israel adopted the 'scorched earth' policy in Gaza, using disproportionate force. Iran, in support of the Hamas, activated the Hezbollah in Lebanon, Yemen's Houthis and pro-Iranian militias in Iraq, to launch their own attacks, on Israel. The Israeli offensive within weeks, militarily degraded the Hamas and in the two years totally marginalised it. Israel thereafter focused on neutralising the Hezbollah, Iran's most powerful, reliable and effective proxy. Live Events Mid-September 2024, Israel stunned the world by executing a coordinated attack, on the pagers and walkie talkies used by Hezbollah and its cadres. It remotely activated the concealed explosives planted inside the batteries of pagers, in a covert operation exploiting technology, decapacitating over 1500 of its cadres. Also, precision aerial strikes destroyed their large inventory of rockets and missiles, while targeted killing eliminated Hezbollah's senior leadership, including its Secretary General Hassan Nasrullah and his successor. The October 2024 ground offensive against Hezbollah, was the proverbial last nail in the coffin. This impact was visible, as in December 2024 , Hezbollah was unable to support the President Assad and his Government, during the rebel offensive in Syria. It led to the fall of the Assad and ended decades old Iran – Syria relationship. Thus, Houthis in Yemen were the only remaining proxy for Iran's future geo political plans. The last and most critical step for Israel was to get Iran in a direct engagement. It achieved that by bombing of the Iranian embassy complex in Syria, in April 2024. It was escalatory and the war that for long had been fought through proxies and targeted killings had now come into the open. The crumbling of the proxies in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, now gave Israel the opportunity to conduct aerial strikes on Iran, with impunity. And the rest is history. In which the 12 day missile exchanges, culminated with US attack on nuclear facilities. And Mr Netanyahu, managed to secure freedom from Iran's nuclear 'Sword of Damocles'. India strategic mandarins can take pointers from this protracted engagement. Firstly, for instituting an effective 'deterrence' strategy for India, with 'out of box' options, of exploiting societal fissures, use of cyber, social networking platforms and emerging technologies for effective perception management in adversarial countries and pro-active diplomacy for global support. A shortcoming noticeable post 'Op Sindoor'. Secondly, unanimous political consensus, across party lines, on issues of national security. Thirdly, essentiality for continuity of policy, that is not hostage to changing political dispensations in elections. Fourthly, need an organisation that provides continuity and maintains non-attributability of actions from the Government in power. 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