Full Breakdown
Satellite Images Reveal Damage to Iran’s Military and Nuclear Sites After US-Israeli Strikes
7/3/2026, 10:13:29 PM
Revealed Damage
Planet Labs released images for about 800 Iranian sites after a US-requested restriction. Janes analysis shows collapsed roofs, craters and flattened structures at Bushehr, Esfahan, Shekari 8 and Baharestan, plus damaged naval and missile facilities.
Background
A 12-day US-Israeli campaign began on 28 February, striking over 13 000 US-identified and roughly 10 800 Israeli-identified targets, including missile launchers, drone factories and nuclear sites.
Scale of Damage
Janes documented over 60 structures at Shekari 8 and a dozen at Baharestan damaged. Israel claims 60 % of launchers and ~250 defence systems destroyed. CENTCOM reports >85 % of missile, drone and naval defence-industrial base hit and 155 vessels, including IRIS Dena, sunk.
Impact on Capabilities
Open-source data shows about 90 % of underground missile tunnels near Hormuz are operational, while drone production has risen tenfold. Ghalibaf announced a law barring external inspection of bombed nuclear sites.
Official Statements & Responses
CENTCOM’s Capt. Tim Hawkins said the strikes achieved strategic degradation while protecting personnel. Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said target lists are ready. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned of an “immediate powerful response” to any threat.
Criticism & Opposition
Humanitarian groups and journalists criticize the ongoing restriction of Planet Labs imagery, saying it hampers independent verification of civilian-infrastructure damage. Israeli officials worry the US may not dilute 60 % enriched uranium, calling it “nuclear dust.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
CENTCOM estimates Iran kept only 30 % of pre-war missile stock, conflicting with Israeli claims of 70 % destroyed launchers. Centrifuge counts at Natanz and Fordow vary widely, and IAEA access is denied.
Verbatim Quotes
- “correlates with the US and Israeli reports of a wide-ranging strike campaign, not only designed to engage standing forces, but degrade the infrastructure behind them” — Jeremy Binnie, Janes defence specialist.
- “We ourselves passed a law in parliament; the Supreme National Security Council also has a resolution. Under this law, absolutely no access is given to sites that have been bombed and damaged,” — Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, parliament speaker.
- “any threat against our people and leadership will receive immediate powerful response” — Abbas Araghchi, foreign minister.
What’s Next
Doha talks aim to finalize the memorandum on Hormuz traffic and unfreeze Iranian assets. Both sides say nuclear-site verification and any hostilities restart depend on the agreement and future US-Israeli actions.
