Joint US-Israel Strikes Inflict Heavy Damage on Iranian Naval Forces, Military Sites

Tehran. A joint military operation by the United States and Israel has caused significant damage to the Iranian Navy. According to new satellite images analyzed by BBC Verify, at least 11 Iranian naval vessels have been destroyed or damaged in the ongoing attacks since Saturday.

Smoke plumes are visible emanating from the ships following explosions at the Bandar Abbas and Konarak naval bases, which house the Iranian Navy headquarters. US President Donald Trump declared the destruction of the Iranian Navy, stating it is one of America's top three targets.

Iran's largest warship, the IRINS Makran, which Iran used as a drone carrier, has been completely destroyed in this attack. Furthermore, intelligence agencies such as Vanguard and Mayer have confirmed that key warships like IRIS Bayandor, Naghdi, and Jamran have either sunk or sustained irreparable damage.

According to Admiral Brad Cooper, head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), 17 vessels, including Iran's most active submarine, have been destroyed, and currently, not a single Iranian ship is operational in the Gulf region.

The attack was not limited to the navy but also targeted Iranian missile bases and nuclear facilities. Extensive damage was reported at missile storage centers in Khorgu, Tabriz, and Konarak, as well as the drone base in Kermanshah. Facilities at Natanz, considered the heart of Iran's nuclear program, were also targeted. However, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated that while the path to the underground enrichment center was damaged, there is no immediate risk of radioactive contamination.

The Israeli attack also damaged buildings belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps headquarters, the National Defense University, and the Ministry of Intelligence in the capital, Tehran. According to former military officials, these strikes are focused on weakening the Iranian regime's internal security apparatus and its capacity for civilian control.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis is deepening due to the conflict. Human rights organizations report that at least 1,097 civilians have died since Saturday, including children killed in an attack on a school in Minab, southern Iran.