Israel claims elimination of nine Iranian nuclear scientists in strikes

The Israeli military announced on Saturday that its recent airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities resulted in the deaths of nine senior Iranian nuclear scientists.

In an official statement, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said the scientists targeted were key figures in advancing Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons program.

“During the Israeli Air Force operations at the outset of Operation Rising Lion, nine senior scientists and experts, instrumental to the Iranian regime’s nuclear ambitions, were eliminated,” the statement read. The names of those killed were also released by Israeli authorities.

The military described the attack as a “significant blow” to Iran’s capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).

According to the IDF, the strikes were based on “precise intelligence gathered by the Intelligence Directorate.”

Israeli officials framed the operation as a necessary step in preventing Iran from advancing its nuclear capabilities, though Iranian authorities have yet to confirm the reported casualties.