Fact Check: Israel launched a wave of air strikes across Iran on Friday, blasting Iran’s huge underground nuclear site.

Fact Check: "Israel launched a wave of air strikes across Iran on Friday, blasting Iran’s huge underground nuclear site."

What We Know

On Friday, June 12, 2025, Israel conducted a series of air strikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities and military leaders. Reports indicate that these strikes were aimed at significant sites, including the Natanz nuclear facility, where the above-ground section was reportedly destroyed, impacting Iran's nuclear capabilities (source-1, source-4). The Israeli military confirmed that the operation resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking Iranian military officials, including Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (source-2, source-6).

The strikes were described as a preemptive measure in response to Iran's advancing nuclear program and were characterized by Israeli officials as necessary for national security (source-3). Following the strikes, Iran launched a retaliatory missile barrage towards Israel, which it termed "Operation Severe Punishment," resulting in casualties in Israel as well (source-1, source-2).

Analysis

The claim that Israel launched a wave of air strikes across Iran is supported by multiple credible sources, including major news outlets like the Associated Press and The New York Times. These reports detail the scale and intent of the Israeli strikes, which targeted both military and nuclear sites, confirming that significant damage was inflicted on Iran's nuclear infrastructure (source-4, source-7).

However, the assertion that these strikes specifically "blasted Iran’s huge underground nuclear site" is somewhat misleading. While the Natanz facility's above-ground structures were reportedly destroyed, the underground sections, which are critical for uranium enrichment, were not confirmed to have been directly hit (source-4). This nuance is important as it suggests that while Israel's strikes were extensive, they may not have achieved their full intended effect on Iran's nuclear capabilities.

The reliability of the sources reporting these events is generally high, as they include established news organizations with rigorous editorial standards. However, the framing of the events can vary, with some outlets emphasizing the humanitarian impact and others focusing on military strategy and geopolitical implications (source-5, source-8).

Conclusion

The claim that "Israel launched a wave of air strikes across Iran" is Partially True. While it accurately reflects the occurrence of extensive Israeli air strikes targeting Iranian nuclear sites and military leaders, the assertion that these strikes specifically destroyed a "huge underground nuclear site" lacks clarity. The strikes did cause significant damage to above-ground facilities, but the underground components, crucial for Iran's nuclear program, were reportedly not directly impacted. Thus, the claim is true in part but requires further context for full accuracy.

Fact Check: Israel launched a wave of air strikes across Iran on Friday, blasting Iran’s huge underground nuclear site.