Satellite Pictures Depict Iran's Naval Forces and Atomic Locations Targeted by Joint US and Israeli Strikes.
A wave of American and Israeli strikes has allegedly destroyed or damaged a minimum of 11 Iranian naval vessels since the weekend, freshly analyzed aerial photos reveal, with launch facilities and atomic facilities also sustaining hits.
Pictures of the southerly Konarak naval base and the Bandar Abbas installation, which is located on the Strait of Hormuz and is home to the headquarters of the Iran's naval force, show plumes of smoke rising from multiple vessels on Monday and Tuesday.
Naval Fleet Sustained Major Losses
Among the targets eliminated was the Makran, the country's biggest warship which had served as a unmanned aerial vehicle platform. Satellite images indicated black smoke emanating from the ship which had been docked at the Bandar Abbas naval base.
Intelligence assessments suggest that at least five ships at Bandar Abbas were "struck or destroyed". Imagery of the southern part of the port reveal smoke rising from the IRINS Makran, while another pair of ships are visibly harmed, with one clearly on fire.
At the Konarak base, photos display several harmed ships, with analysis identifying strikes against six ships. Images from the start of the week also show that multiple structures at the installation have been leveled.
"For a long time the Iran's leadership has harassed international shipping," the head of US Central Command said. "Today, there is no Iranian vessel operational in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz or Gulf of Oman, and we will persist."
A number of vessels reportedly sunk may have been obscured in aerial photos by cloud or smoke, or struck at sea, and have not been conclusively proven. Additional information indicated that a ship from Iran was foundering near Sri Lankan waters, prompting a rescue operation.
Missile Sites and Atomic Facilities Targeted
The destruction of Iranian missile bases and the stopping atomic bomb programs were declared as further goals of the air campaign. Satellite images also showed damage at the southern Khorgu base and northwestern Tabriz facilities, and at the Konarak air base, where rocket warehouses and bunkers were struck.
Over at the Choqa Balk-e drone UAV facility west of the city of Kermanshah, significant damage was seen to warehouses, underground facilities and UAV launching apparatus.
Impact was also seen at a radar site at the Zahedan military airport in eastern parts of the country, close to the frontier with Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Of particular note, the most recent series of attacks have reportedly hit facilities at the Natanz complex – long said to be at the heart of Iran's atomic program. An international watchdog said that the affected structures were used for access to the facility's underground nuclear plant and that "no nuclear fallout" was expected.
Broader Impact and Assessment
Military analysts suggested that the offensive appeared to have "largely neutralized" the Iranian navy's ability to carry out standard operations using its most significant vessels. However, it was emphasised that Iran maintains the capacity to launch irregular strikes at sea through the use of drones, mini-submarines and its so-called "shadow fleet" of oil ships.
The full scope of the damage caused to Iranian military infrastructure is still uncertain, with strikes reportedly continuing. Imagery also reveals widespread destruction to the main offices of the the IRGC in the city of Tehran.
A large number of civilian buildings also are reported to have been struck in the capital city and throughout Iran after the fighting started. Toll estimates from ground sources indicate that a high number of civilians may have been killed in the strikes.
As the situation develops, review of satellite imagery will carry on to track the unfolding scope of damage.