Part 3/11:
Western intelligence agencies uncovered activity at the site earlier this year, indicating work on computer modeling and metallurgy—technologies essential for weaponizing nuclear material. Israeli and U.S. intelligence sources confirmed that the strike, carried out on October 25th, significantly setback Iran's nuclear progress, particularly damaging sophisticated equipment used for making plastic explosives integral to nuclear weapon triggers.
The attack targeted a facility that was kept highly secretive, with Iran claiming it was civilian research—an explanation not uncommon to Iranian nuclear disclosures over the years. A U.S. official noted that only a small elite within Iran's government knew of the site's true purpose, making it a prime target for Israeli intelligence.