Investigating the Influence of US-Israeli Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Programme 

Within the early hours of June 13, Israeli missiles slammed into condominium buildings throughout the Iranian capital, Tehran. 

By morning, it turned obvious that 9 males Israel stated have been carefully related with the nation’s nuclear programme have been useless. 

Movies posted to social media confirmed buildings in flames and rescue employees sifting by means of rubble as they seemed for survivors.

Dozens of civilians who lived in the identical condominium blocks as these focused additionally died within the strikes. In a single occasion, a 14-storey residential tower utterly collapsed.

However this was simply the beginning, the opening pictures of what Israel dubbed Operation Rising Lion – a 12-day operation concentrating on Iranian scientists, nuclear websites, safety figures and navy capabilities.

Whereas Iran sought to struggle again, launching missiles and drones at Israel, the harm and loss of life toll inflicted by Israel was far higher.

On day 10 of the operation, america joined with Israel, finishing up strikes on nuclear websites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.

Bellingcat labored with FRONTLINE (PBS), The Washington Submit and Evident Media to piece collectively the occasions of the 12-day conflict to try to perceive the true influence of the strikes on Iran’s nuclear programme. Iran maintains the programme is peaceable however Israel has lengthy suspected that it’s designed to develop nuclear weapons.

FRONTLINE filmmakers got entry to Iran, the place they visited the websites of a few of the strikes and spoke to neighbours and kin of those that have been killed in addition to high-ranking Iranian officers.

The Washington Submit additionally spoke to senior intelligence and navy sources concerned in Operation Rising Lion, and the filmmakers visited Vienna to talk with the Worldwide Atomic Power Company (IAEA), the organisation that has been liable for monitoring Iran’s nuclear programme.

Bellingcat, alongside The Washington Submit, analysed open supply info akin to satellite tv for pc imagery, social media footage, native media protection, loss of life notices and cemetery information to grasp how the assaults on Iranian scientists unfolded in addition to analyse the civilian value of the battle.

Watch the total movie beneath.

Full reporting and the movie might be seen on FRONTLINE’s YouTube channel, at pbs.org/frontline, on PBS stations and within the PBS App. Go to

Trevor Ball, Carlos Gonzales, Sebastian Vandermeersch and Eoghan Macguire reported for Bellingcat. Sebastian Walker and Adam Desiderio reported for PBS Frontline. Nilo Tabrizy and Jarrett Ley reported for The Washington Submit.

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