• Israeli air strikes targeted the Arak nuclear reactor in Iran, claiming to prevent nuclear weapon development.
• The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed no nuclear material was present at the time of the attack.
• Iran condemned the strikes as a violation of international law while claiming a peaceful nuclear agenda.
• Significant damage was reported at the reactor site, with satellite images showing a hole in its domed roof.
• The conflict escalated following Iranian missile strikes on southern Israel prior to the Israeli air strikes.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched air strikes on the Arak heavy water reactor in Iran, a site previously deemed inactive under the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal. The IDF stated that the strikes were part of broader efforts to ensure the Iranian regime does not develop nuclear weapons capabilities, particularly targeting "the reactor's core seal" to prevent its restoration for plutonium production. The facility is located approximately 250 kilometers southwest of Tehran and has long been a focus of concern regarding Iran's potential nuclear ambitions, according to Newsweek and BBC.

Included in the strikes were other military sites aimed at advancing Iran's nuclear weapons program, with the IDF reporting multiple explosions at the Arak site. Satellite images displayed significant damage, highlighting a breach in the reactor's domed roof and surrounding structures. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that there was no nuclear material present during the strikes, effectively reducing any risk of radiological fallout, as mentioned by India Times and Newsweek.

The attack on the Arak reactor and other related sites occurred amidst escalating tensions following Iranian missile strikes on Israel that caused injuries and damage to civilian infrastructures. Iranian officials condemned the Israeli attacks as "barbaric and unlawful," asserting their nuclear program is entirely peaceful. Former Iranian officials have noted that the Arak reactor was intended to be modified under the 2015 negotiations to minimize proliferation risks but claimed certain modifications were not fully executed, as highlighted by India Times and BBC.

The Israeli military's strategic goal is to dismantle Iranian capabilities to develop nuclear technology perceived as posing a direct threat, according to statements from IDF officials. The reactive approach follows a history of air strikes aimed at Iranian nuclear sites, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserting that failing to act against Iran would allow the nation to produce nuclear weapons within a short timeframe, as discussed by India Times and Newsweek.