Before and after photos of Irans Arak heavy water reactor following Israeli airstrike

Satellite images have captured Iran’s Arak heavy water research reactor with a huge gaping hole blasted through it after Israel dropped a bomb on the nuclear site — which was built as a key part of the country’s atomic bomb ambitions.The before and after photos shed light on the damage inflicted on the facility after the Israeli military said it pummeled the nuclear site near Iran’s central city of Arak early Thursday in a targeted attack.

In the aftermath of the blast, one image showed a large crater in the dome of the partially built heavy-water research reactor.Israel also later released black-and-white footage of the strike on the Arak reactor, which showed the bomb exploding on the dome before a massive plume of fire and smoke erupted into the sky.Fighter jets targeted the Arak facility and its reactor core seal to halt it from being used to produce plutonium, Israel’s military said.“The strike targeted the component intended for plutonium production, in order to prevent the reactor from being restored and used for nuclear weapons development,” the Israelis said.Heavy-water reactors produce plutonium, which — like enriched uranium — can be used to make the core of an atom bomb.

The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog noted that since it was not in operation and contained no nuclear material at the time, there was no danger to the public of any “radiological effects.” The facility had also been evacuated before the attack, Iranian state television reported.In the lead up, the Israel Defense Forces had shared an evacuation warning across social media that included a satellite image of the nuclear plant — complete with a red circle blast zone.“Dear citizens, for your safety and well-being, we urgently request that you immediately evacuate the designated area in Tehran’s Area 18.

Your presence in this area puts your life at risk,” the IDF wrote on X.With Post wires...