Israel/Iran War: Israel Releases 9 Names of Iranian Scientists Killed
The IDF has released the names of nine Iranian nuclear scientists who were killed in the initial wave of Israeli strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear program early Friday morning.
These individuals, the military says, were instrumental in advancing Iran’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon.
Among those eliminated were:
• Fereydoon Abbasi – nuclear engineering
• Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi – physics
• Akbar Motalebi Zadeh – chemical engineering
• Saeed Barji – materials engineering
• Amir Hassan Fakhahi – physics
• Abd al-Hamid Minoushehr – reactor physics
• Mansour Asgari – physics
• Ahmad Reza Zolfaghari Daryani – nuclear engineering
• Ali Bakhouei Katirimi – mechanical engineering
The IDF described them as key figures in Iran’s nuclear development efforts, with many considered direct successors to Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the Iranian nuclear scientist assassinated in 2020, widely attributed to Israeli intelligence.
According to the military, these scientists were killed in coordinated precision strikes across Tehran, launched in tandem with attacks that also took out several high-ranking military leaders.
The IDF said the operation was the result of a long-term classified initiative involving a dedicated team of intelligence analysts who, over years, secretly tracked and mapped the scientists’ movements and roles.
The project gained momentum in the past year and was part of a broader, compartmentalized military strategy targeting Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a stark warning to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, declaring that continued missile attacks on Israel would bring devastating consequences to Tehran.
“Khamenei is holding the people of Iran hostage and dragging them into a dangerous situation in which they – especially those in Tehran – will bear the consequences of this criminal assault on Israeli civilians,”
Katz said during a high-level security meeting with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, Mossad chief David Barnea, and other senior defense officials.
“If these attacks persist, Tehran will face destruction,” he warned.
Since last night, Iran has launched approximately 200 ballistic missiles at Israel in multiple waves, the IDF reports.
The majority were intercepted by Israel’s air defense systems, but roughly 25%—fewer than 50—were not stopped “according to protocol,” landing in open areas without damaging critical infrastructure.
However, a small number of missiles did penetrate defense systems, striking residential zones in central Israel, including Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, and Rishon Lezion.
These impacts resulted in the deaths of three Israeli civilians and left around 80 others injured.
Despite the barrage, the IDF confirms that all military bases, including air force facilities, remain fully operational and unaffected.
Additionally, the Israeli Air Force and Navy successfully intercepted several drones launched overnight, continuing the trend of thwarting aerial threats after downing 100 Iranian drones on Friday.
The IDF announced it is intensifying operations inside Iran, with plans to “operate freely over Tehran” following a successful wave of overnight strikes.
According to IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, Israel has “paved the way to Tehran” after eliminating key air defense systems during the night. The military has released footage of the attacks.
The ongoing campaign is now shifting focus to Iranian nuclear facilities, military compounds, ballistic missile launchers, and high-ranking officials, including nuclear scientists.
Since the operation began early Friday, the IDF has struck over 150 strategic targets across Iran.
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