Iran Threatens Strike on Dimona Nuclear Site as Israel, US Vow to Press War Effort

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz has spoken to his American counterpart, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, his office told the Times of Israel, the publication reported on Thursday.

According to a readout from the defence minister’s office, Katz condoled the deaths of six US service members who were killed in Iranian attacks, “and noted that Israel is doing and will continue to do everything to assist in protecting the safety of US troops in the region.”

“Katz asked to thank US President Trump for the great support for Israel and noted that the cooperation between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu against Iran is changing regional and global history,” the statement said.

Katz also thanked Hegseth “for his great support for Israel and for the extensive assistance in defending the citizens of the State of Israel against the Iranian missile threat, and noted the close and unprecedented cooperation between the militaries to achieve all of the war’s objectives.”

The defence minister’s office further told the Times of Israel that Hegseth “praised the unprecedented cooperation between the militaries and the capabilities of the IDF” and told Katz: “Continue to the end, we are with you.”

Why did Iran threaten to target Israel’s Dimona nuclear site?

Meanwhile, Iran threatened on Thursday to target the Dimona nuclear site if Israel and the United States sought to topple the Islamic Republic.

The warning followed an open threat from Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz, who had said that any new leader brought in by the regime would be a legitimate target for elimination.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it has launched the nineteenth wave of Operation “True Promise 4” as a combined missile and drone operation, according to IRGC Public Relations.

According to the IRGC PR, “This operation against the positions of American-Zionist terrorists in the heart of the occupied territories and American terrorist bases began with massive explosions under the blessed code name ‘Ya Hassan ibn Ali (peace be upon him).’”

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps earlier announced that it had carried out strikes against Israeli and American targets across the region, according to Iranian state broadcaster Press TV.

How did Iran’s IRGC strike Israeli and US radar systems during the latest missile attacks?

In a statement on Wednesday (local time), the IRGC said the latest wave of attacks came on the fifth day of the operation, which Tehran says was launched in response to what it called “unprovoked aggression” by Israel and the United States.

The force claimed that more than seven advanced radar systems belonging to the United States and Israel had been destroyed, describing the strikes as having “blinded the eyes” of the two countries’ surveillance network in the region.

The statement further alleged that Iranian projectiles had bypassed the THAAD missile defence system deployed to defend Israel and struck multiple locations, including the Israeli defence ministry complex in Tel Aviv and the country’s main international gateway, Ben Gurion Airport.

According to the IRGC, ongoing missile and drone launches have triggered hours of air raid sirens and prolonged sheltering of residents in several areas across Israel.

The group said the attacks are part of a “steady and managed rhythm of projectile launches” and warned that “in the coming days, the attacks will become more intense and widespread.”

What areas in Israel were affected by the latest Iranian ballistic missile attack?

In Israel, the Israel Defence Forces said Iran had launched another ballistic missile attack targeting the country, with sirens activated in communities in central Israel, the Jerusalem area and parts of the West Bank.

Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported that preparations are underway at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla for the placement of the body of the late Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the US-Israel led strike on Iran.

The Grand Mosalla of Tehran is a massive prayer complex used for the city’s most significant state religious gatherings.

The ceremony forms part of a three day farewell being organised for the late Supreme Leader. Thousands of mourners are expected to gather at the Mosalla.

A “farewell ceremony” followed by a “funeral procession” is the protocol after the death of a Supreme Leader.

Thursday marks day six of the ongoing conflict in West Asia and American officials have said their operation has only just begun, raising the possibility that the conflict could stretch longer than anticipated.

(With inputs from ANI)