Day after US airstrikes, Israel hits Fordow again: What makes this Iranian nuclear site so critical?

This handout satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant in central Iran on June 14, 2025.

In the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, one name keeps reappearing on the strike list: Fordow. The underground uranium enrichment facility, nestled in the mountains near Qom, south of Tehran, has been targeted once again by Israeli airstrikes, according to Iranian media. “The aggressor attacked the Fordow nuclear site again,” Tasnim news agency reported, quoting a spokesperson from Qom’s crisis management authority.

This latest strike comes barely a day after the United States carried out unprecedented attacks on key nuclear facilities in Iran, including Isfahan, Natanz, and Fordow. US President Donald Trump claimed the strikes had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capabilities, though American officials cautioned that the full extent of the damage remains unclear.

The Fordow facility has long held a symbolic and strategic significance in Israel’s eyes. Originally built in secret and revealed only in 2009, Fordow is heavily fortified and buried deep inside a mountain, making it a formidable challenge for conventional airstrikes. Its protection and secrecy signal the site's importance to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, particularly in enriching uranium closer to weapons-grade levels.

From Israel’s perspective, Fordow represents more than just a nuclear facility; it’s a testament to Iran’s determination to preserve and possibly escalate its nuclear programme, even under pressure. That’s why it has consistently featured on Israel’s strike list in previous confrontations, and why it was once again targeted after Iran’s retaliation threats following the US and Israeli raids.

The Israeli government sees a functioning Fordow as a red line - an asset that could enable Iran to break out toward weaponisation. Although Iran claims its nuclear programme is peaceful, the Fordow site's location, design, and enrichment capabilities have raised alarm bells among Israeli and Western intelligence agencies for over a decade.

While Iran has claimed there are “no signs of contamination” following the US strikes, and has vowed retaliation, the intense focus on Fordow shows that Israel will likely continue to treat the site as a top-tier threat