U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced on Wednesday that the damage inflicted by American B2 bombers on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure was so extensive that any attempt to rebuild the sites would take years.
“New intelligence confirms what POTUS has stated numerous times: Iran’s nuclear facilities have been destroyed. If the Iranians chose to rebuild, they would have to rebuild all three facilities (Natanz, Fordow, Esfahan) entirely, which would likely take years to do,” Gabbard posted on X.
She also denounced media coverage from outlets like CNN and The New York Times, accusing them of misrepresenting classified intelligence through unauthorized leaks in order to minimize the accomplishments of the U.S.-Israeli operation.
“The propaganda media has deployed their usual tactic: selectively release portions of illegally leaked classified intelligence assessments (intentionally leaving out the fact that the assessment was written with ‘low confidence’) to try to undermine President Trump’s decisive leadership and the brave servicemen and women who flawlessly executed a truly historic mission to keep the American people safe and secure,” she wrote.
On Tuesday night, President Trump dismissed the reports from CNN and The New York Times, which cited anonymous sources suggesting the recent airstrikes had limited effect.
“Fake news CNN, together with the failing New York Times, have teamed up in an attempt to demean one of the most successful military strikes in history. The nuclear sites in Iran are completely destroyed! Both the Times and CNN are getting slammed by the public!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump also highlighted remarks from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who disputed the negative reporting and stood by the outcome of the strike campaign.
“Based on everything we have seen — and I’ve seen it all — our bombing campaign obliterated Iran’s ability to create nuclear weapons,” said Hegseth.
He continued, “Our massive bombs hit exactly the right spot at each target—and worked perfectly. The impact of those bombs is buried under a mountain of rubble in Iran; so anyone who says the bombs were not devastating is just trying to undermine the President and the successful mission.”
Earlier in the day, the White House released a series of confirmations from various sources, attesting to the destruction of the three targeted nuclear sites. Among them was the Israel Atomic Energy Commission, which issued a firm statement: “The devastating US strike on Fordo destroyed the site’s critical infrastructure and rendered the enrichment facility inoperable. We assess that the American strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, combined with Israeli strikes on other elements of Iran’s military nuclear program, has set back Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons by many years. The achievement can continue indefinitely if Iran does not get access to nuclear material.”
{Matzav.com}
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir disclosed Wednesday night that the IDF’s involvement in Iran extended beyond air operations and intelligence. Special ground units, not only the Mossad, were active on Iranian soil during the war.
“We achieved full control over the skies of Iran and in every place we chose to operate. This was made possible, in part, due to the integration and tactics performed by air forces and ground commandos,” Zamir said during a special statement.
He explained that the impact on Iran’s nuclear capabilities was far from limited. “According to the assessments of senior officials in the IDF Intelligence Directorate, the damage to the nuclear program was not a pinpoint attack but a systemic blow—the accumulated success allows us to state that the Iranian nuclear project has suffered a severe, broad, and deep setback, and has been pushed back years. We will not allow Iran to produce weapons of mass destruction,” Zamir added.
Reflecting on the overall purpose of the mission, he stated, “We launched Operation Rising Lion with a clear mission in mind—to remove the existential threat to the State of Israel. After 12 days of unprecedented fighting, I can say that the IDF performed at its best and fully achieved the objectives of the operation.”
Zamir elaborated on the nature of the Iranian threat, calling it a comprehensive plan for Israel’s destruction. “First, the nuclear program, which had reached critical stages, with a rapid ability to break through to nuclear weapons. Second, the long-range missile program, involving the production of thousands of missiles aimed at paralyzing Israel and spreading destruction and death among the population. The third, ‘the plan to destroy Israel.’ In the months leading up to the war, Iran advanced a plan based on massive fire from the enemy alongside a multi-theater ground invasion. All these plans had one common goal: the destruction of the State of Israel. They were not merely theoretical ideas, but an existential threat to our lives in the country. The threat became real. We are fighting for our existence with strength, and we are transferring the fire to enemy territory. We act and initiate according to the moral directive ‘If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first.’”
He described the precision and planning that led to the campaign’s success. “After years of preparation and months of meticulous and accelerated readiness in the IDF, our opening strike was surprising and decisive. The opening strike threw the enemy off balance and was a central component of the overall success of the campaign. We hit all the targets we planned, and even more. We deepened the achievement beyond the plans we set out with.”
Zamir reiterated the scale of the blow dealt to Iran’s nuclear program. “According to assessments from senior IDF Intelligence and our nuclear experts, the strike on the nuclear program was not just a pinpoint attack, but a systemic blow. We hit the main facilities, factories, industries, and knowledge centers. The accumulated success allows us to say that the Iranian nuclear project suffered a severe, broad, and deep blow and was set back years. We proved our determination—we will not allow Iran to produce weapons of mass destruction.”
Addressing Iran’s missile arsenal, he said: “We dealt a severe blow to the missile capability, eliminating hundreds of launchers and missiles, significantly delaying their force-building program. In addition, we managed to create intelligence, technological, and air superiority. We achieved full control over the skies of Iran and wherever we chose to operate. These successes were made possible, in part, through the integration and tactics employed by air and ground commando forces. The forces operated covertly deep in enemy territory, providing us with operational freedom.”
Zamir credited part of the mission’s success to Israel’s strategic partnership with the United States. “Our achievements were enhanced thanks to the actions of the U.S. military. The actions of the U.S. forces were precise, powerful, and impressive. Throughout all stages of the operation, I maintained close contact with my counterparts in the U.S. military. The coordination between the armies is a strategic asset for the State of Israel.”
He also directed a heartfelt message to Israeli citizens. “The resilience and responsibility you have shown are worthy of admiration. They will continue to serve as a strong foundation for our ability to face any challenge together. Our hearts are with the families of the fallen, and I wish a speedy recovery to all the wounded.”
Turning to the ongoing conflict in the south, Zamir emphasized that operations in Gaza were still underway. “In Gaza, the fighting continues. Our fighters—infantry, armor, combat engineers, artillery, and commando forces—continue to operate with courage in close combat in a complex environment to protect our communities. We must continue to act to achieve the goals of the war—the return of the 50 hostages and the dismantling of Hamas’ rule.”
{Matzav.com}
At the opening of Wednesday’s cabinet session, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu delivered a somber and unwavering address to the nation, mourning the lives lost and reaffirming the government’s mission.
“We have a difficult day today. We lost seven of our heroic soldiers, who fell in the campaign to defeat Hamas and for the release of our hostages. Our hearts are with the families. We take them to our hearts in their unbearably difficult hour.”
Turning to his colleagues in government, Netanyahu praised their efforts in managing the ongoing war. “I would like to again commend the ministers of the Government. It is not self-evident that the State of Israel would succeed in maintaining functional stability in the face of barrages of lethal missiles. It was done by dedicated, expedited, and successful work by the Government ministries.”
He then shifted focus to the country’s rebuilding efforts, describing the approach his administration has mandated. “We are currently immersed in the task of rebuilding, of course. The directive that I have given, and I know that it will be carried out, is to render generous assistance quickly.”
Expanding on the specifics of that directive, Netanyahu said: “Generous – this means that the resources of the state will be directed, like we did during the Corona crisis. It helped and we got Israel out of that crisis first in the world.”
He continued: “Quickly – this means cutting through bureaucracy, which always makes these things difficult. It is a mission, and I know that you are dedicated to it.”
The Prime Minister went on to express his gratitude to one key figure in particular. “I would like to specially thank Defense Minister Israel Katz, who worked with me shoulder-to-shoulder in managing the campaign. This combination and the action that the Government ministries took to give us space to work, what we did together, Israel, greatly assisted, and was a critical component, in achieving the result. Thank you, Israel.”
During his remarks, Netanyahu shared a piece of writing he received from a member of the public, Naama Kadosh. “The name of the poem is ‘A People as a Lion’: ‘Sometimes we stand without words in the face of the greatness of the hour. The heart contracts and expands in the same breath. As we see everyone, lion and lioness, how the Eternal People, the Chosen People, has risen again before our eyes.'”
Concluding his address, Netanyahu pointed to the deeper meaning of recent events. “I think she says the primary thing, and we really do have a great achievement. We have a great victory in the campaign against an enemy who came to destroy us. By this victory we have removed two immediate existential threats in order to ensure the eternity of Israel.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
President Donald Trump addressed the recent hostilities between Israel and Iran and commented on the U.S. military response during his appearance at the NATO summit in the Netherlands.
“Last weekend, the United States successfully carried out a massive precision strike on Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities,” Trump stated. “This incredible exercise of American strength has paved the way for peace, with a historic ceasefire agreement.”
When asked what gave him confidence that the fighting between the two nations had ended, Trump replied: “I dealt with both and they’re both tiered and exhausted. They fought very hard and viciously. They were both satisfied to go home and get out.”
He acknowledged the possibility that tensions could flare up again, but explained: “I think a big telltale sign is that Iran somewhat, but not much, violated the ceasefire, and Israel had the planes going out that morning, they had a lot of them. 52 of them. I said ‘You gotta get them back,’ and they got them back, they didn’t do anything.”
A journalist inquired whether Iran had the opportunity to relocate any sensitive materials before the U.S. launched its bombing campaign. Trump firmly denied that possibility, saying: “No, just the opposite. We think we hit them so hard and so fast, it didn’t get to move… it’s very hard and very dangerous to move.”
He added further detail, noting: “We’ve collected additional intelligence and we’ve also spoken to people who have seen the site — and the site is obliterated.”
To reinforce his remarks, Trump read aloud from a letter he received from the Atomic Energy Commission of Israel. The letter stated that “the devastating US strike on Fordow destroyed the site’s critical infrastructure and rendered the enrichment facility totally inoperable.”
{Matzav.com}
New information has emerged from the ongoing investigation into the deadly incident in Khan Yunis, where one officer and six soldiers from the 605th Combat Engineering Battalion, part of the 188th Brigade, lost their lives. Military correspondent Doron Kadosh reported Wednesday evening on preliminary findings, which indicate that the blast was caused not by an explosive affixed to the Puma armored personnel carrier (APC), but by one hurled into it by a terrorist.
The tragic event unfolded during an assault carried out by the 188th Brigade in Khan Yunis. A fighter jet was dispatched to strike a target situated in close proximity to the unit. Just before the airstrike, another group from the same battalion had come under attack from an explosive device and rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) fire, resulting in two injuries—one soldier in serious condition and another with light wounds.
Military safety regulations dictate that when an airstrike is about to occur near ground forces, the soldiers must seek shelter in armored vehicles to protect themselves from flying debris and shrapnel caused by the bombing. In line with this protocol, seven soldiers entered the Puma APC briefly to shield themselves ahead of the planned airstrike.
The inquiry found that during the time the soldiers were inside the APC, a terrorist rapidly closed in, managed to climb onto the vehicle in mere seconds, and tossed an explosive directly into the carrier from above. The report states that the soldiers were struck within moments of the blast, with the explosion inflicting immediate and devastating damage.
The investigation further confirmed that there were no additional explosives or demolition materials from the engineering unit stored inside the APC—only the standard ammunition carried by the soldiers themselves.
{Matzav.com Israel}
President Trump announced on Wednesday that American representatives are preparing to hold discussions with Iranian officials in the coming days, following the recent US bombing campaign which he claimed buried Iran’s enriched uranium deep beneath layers of rubble.
“We’re going to talk to them next week, with Iran. We may sign an agreement. I don’t know,” Trump stated during a press conference held after the NATO summit concluded in The Hague.
He did not disclose the location of the meeting or identify who would represent the United States in the talks. The announcement came on the heels of Trump brokering a cease-fire earlier in the week between Iran and Israel, putting an end to what he termed the “12-Day War.”
“I could get a statement that they’re not going to go nuclear. We’re probably going to ask for that, but they’re not going to be doing it anyway.”
Trump reiterated his stance: “We may sign an agreement, [but] I don’t care if I have an agreement or not.”
He went on to explain that he believes a significant amount of Iran’s enriched uranium — close to 900 pounds — is now buried beneath what he described as 300 feet of destruction at the Fordow nuclear facility, which had been targeted by a barrage of twelve massive “bunker buster” bombs, each weighing 30,000 pounds.
“We think everything nuclear is down there, they didn’t take it out,” he said.
“We think we hit them so hard and so fast, they didn’t get to move. And if you knew about that material, it’s very hard and very dangerous to move,” the president said.
“They call it dust, but it’s very heavy, it’s very, very hard to move. And they were way down. You know, they were 30 stories down. They’re literally 30-35 stories down underground. We think it’s covered with granite, concrete and steel.”
On Tuesday, Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told Fox News that the UN agency was unaware of the uranium’s current location.
“We do not have information of the whereabouts of this material,” Grossi said, adding that the uranium had been enriched to 60% purity — still short of the 90-93% needed to manufacture nuclear arms.
Speaking to reporters before heading home from Europe, Trump, 79, lashed out at the media, accusing some journalists of downplaying the effects of the US strikes and likening the operation to America’s atomic bombings of Japan at the close of World War II.
“It was so bad that they ended the war,” he said of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Addressing a leaked Defense Intelligence Agency report that suggested the Iranian nuclear effort might be restored within months, Trump dismissed the claim as mere speculation, saying, “they didn’t see it.”
On Wednesday, the Israel Atomic Energy Commission released its own evaluation, strongly supporting the impact of the strike on the Fordow site. The commission asserted that the bombs “destroyed the site’s critical infrastructure and rendered the enrichment facility inoperable.”
“We assess that the American strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, combined with Israeli strikes on other elements of Iran’s military nuclear program, has set back Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons by many years.”
One remaining question is how the US intends to handle sanctions enforcement against Iranian oil exports — an issue that Trump has toughened in recent months.
In a post on social media Tuesday, Trump remarked that “China can now continue to purchase Oil from Iran,” though he did not elaborate on the comment during Wednesday’s remarks, beyond noting: “they’re going to need money to put that country back in shape. We want to see that happen.”
{Matzav.com}
