Trump: Israeli commandos entered Iran’s Fordow site after US strike

In an unusual move, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir confirmed the presence of Israeli special forces deep in Iranian territory.

By David Brummer, World Israel News

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Israeli forces entered Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility after it was struck by US Air Force bombers earlier this week, according to numerous outlets.

Describing the damage as “total obliteration,” a claim that has been subject to much counter-claim and speculation, the president warned that Washington would strike again if Tehran attempts to revive its uranium enrichment program.

Speaking at the NATO summit in The Hague, Trump praised the success of the attack and hinted at Israeli involvement on the ground.

“You know they have guys that go in there after the hit, and they said it was total obliteration,” he said.

“I believe they didn’t have a chance to get anything out because we acted fast.”

Trump added that Israel is currently assessing the extent of the damage at Fordow and reiterated his assessment that Iran’s nuclear ambitions have been neutralized for the long term.

“I think it’s basically decades, because I don’t think they’ll ever do it again. I think they’ve had it. I mean, they just went through hell,” he said.

Despite a leaked initial US intelligence report claiming that Iran’s underground nuclear infrastructure was not fully destroyed and that enriched uranium may have been moved before the strike, the White House dismissed the report and criticized the unauthorized disclosure.

Israeli officials, however, offered mixed responses.

While some told the Kan public broadcaster they were unaware of any Israeli operation specifically targeting the Fordow facility post-strike, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir acknowledged for the first time that Israeli commandos had been operating on the ground inside Iran throughout the recent 12-day conflict.

“The forces operated covertly deep in enemy territory and created operational freedom for us,” Zamir said in a video statement released on Wednesday.

He also emphasized the strategic success of the broader campaign: “The Iranian nuclear project suffered a hard, broad and deep blow and sets it back by years.”

When asked whether the US would launch more attacks if Iran tried to restart its nuclear program, Trump replied, “Sure. But I’m not going to have to worry about that. It’s gone for years.”

The Fordow facility, deeply embedded beneath a mountain near Qom, has long been a centerpiece of Iran’s uranium enrichment efforts.

While Iran has not yet officially responded to Trump’s latest remarks, Iranian officials have previously vowed to continue their nuclear development despite Western pressure.

The evolving disclosures point to unprecedented coordination between the US and Israel in targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, raising a sense of mystery about the extent and duration of Israel’s covert presence inside Iranian territory.

Donald TrumpEyal ZamirFordowiran nuclear program