“EXTENSIVE” WAVE: Israel Hammers Iranian Arms Industry in 48-Hour “Surge”
JERUSALEM / TEHRAN — The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Thursday, March 26, 2026, that the Israeli Air Force has completed a “large wave of extensive strikes” across multiple provinces in Iran. The operation, which reportedly follows a 48-hour directive from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “destroy as much of Iran’s arms industry as possible,” marks one of the most significant escalations of Operation Epic Fury since it began on February 28.
Military officials stated the strikes targeted “regime infrastructure,” specifically focusing on weapons production, naval capabilities, and research centers.
Key Targets: Isfahan and Tehran Hit Hard
The strikes, conducted late Wednesday and into the early hours of Thursday, were distributed across Iran’s industrial heartland and its capital.
- Tehran (Naval & Aerospace): The IDF confirmed the destruction of two production sites for naval cruise missiles in the capital. Additional strikes hit the headquarters of the IRGC Air Defense and Ground Forces, as well as a Quds Force intelligence site.
- Isfahan (Military Optics & Explosives): Extensive damage was reported at the Iranian Ministry of Defense’s optics company, responsible for high-tech military equipment. One of Iran’s “main” explosives production facilities southwest of Isfahan City was also reportedly “leveled.”
- Caspian Sea (Supply Lines): Reports suggest the IDF targeted the Bandar Anzali Port to “shut down” the critical supply line between Russia and Iran, targeting dozens of vessels and a command center used for transferring drones and ammunition.
- Regional Reach: Airstrikes were also geolocated in Mashhad—the most northeastern site targeted since the war began—as well as Yazd, Bandar Abbas, Karaj, and Shiraz.
The “Bushehr” Near-Miss
For the second time this week, Iranian officials and the IAEA reported that a projectile landed within the compound of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant.
“The American-Zionist enemy has attacked the Bushehr nuclear power plant site again. A projectile hit inside the enclosure, but initial reports indicate no financial or technical damage.” — Iran Atomic Energy Organization Statement
While the reactor remains unharmed, the strike prompted Russia to evacuate a further 163 personnel from the facility today, reducing the staff to a “skeleton crew.”
Netanyahu’s 48-Hour Directive
The surge in strikes is linked to a specific military window. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered the IDF to maximize the degradation of Iran’s military-industrial complex over a 48-hour period ending on Friday morning.
| Military Objective | Progress as of March 26 |
| Ballistic Missile Launchers | ~330 of 470 rendered inoperable or destroyed. |
| Air Defense Systems | Over 200 systems reportedly degraded to maintain air dominance. |
| Naval Assets | 17 warships, including one submarine, reportedly destroyed. |
| IRGC Command | Sustained strikes on “leadership facilities” in central Tehran. |
What’s Next?
This “extensive wave” serves as the kinetic precursor to the Friday, March 27 deadline set by President Trump. As Israel focuses on the “arms industry,” the U.S. is poised to transition to the “Total Infrastructure Phase”—targeting the national power grid—at sunrise tomorrow if the 15-point peace plan remains unsigned.