Damage Unknown: Israel Bombs Arak Nuclear Reactor in Central Iran | Al Arabiya TV

Israel continues to target Iranian nuclear facilities as its aggression against Iran enters its seventh day. It targeted the Arak heavy water nuclear reactor in central Iran, but there was no radiation hazard, according to Iranian media.

The Israeli military announced in a statement Thursday that it had targeted a non-operational "nuclear reactor" in Arak overnight, also confirming that it had again struck the Natanz nuclear facility.

The statement confirmed that the strike targeted "the reactor core seal structure, a key component in plutonium production," which surrounds the core of the nuclear reactor, sealing it tightly and maintaining its integrity. It noted that the goal of the attack on the reactor was to "prevent its restart and use in developing nuclear weapons."

He added that the Air Force targeted a nuclear weapons development site in the Natanz area, and that approximately 40 warplanes participated in the night raids that targeted "dozens of sites."

Al-Arabiya TV in Tehran reported that media outlets affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed that Israel launched an attack on the Arak reactor, as well as another facility in Khondab, noting that there is no precise information regarding what was targeted.

He explained that there was no trace of radiation and that the nuclear reactor area was empty, without providing further details, according to the same media outlets. He also stated that the losses resulting from the strike were unknown.

He pointed out that Israel had previously warned residents of Arak and Khondab in central Iran to evacuate ahead of an airstrike.

Al-Arabiya TV reported that Israel's airstrikes targeting Iranian air defense systems may have paved the way for Israeli fighter jets to hover more frequently in Iranian skies, particularly over areas containing reactors and facilities related to the nuclear program.

Military and strategic expert Mohammed Al-Samadi told Al-Arabiya TV that the Iranian nuclear project is on the Israeli occupation's list of targets. This includes nuclear reactors and all associated facilities, which are being targeted and may be retargeted several times until they are destroyed.

Al-Samadi noted that it is noteworthy that Iranian air defenses were able to shoot down the Hermes 900 drones, which are used for damage assessment following airstrikes.

He pointed out that these aircraft can remain in the air for 40 hours at an altitude of 30,000 feet, and conduct photography and broadcast live images to control stations, early warning aircraft, and command and control aircraft to assess damage.