Dimona: Israel's Nuclear Red LineDimona is Israel's key nuclear reactor in the Negev Desert, built in the 1960s with French assistance, it produces plutonium for warheads.
Experts believe it supports Israel's estimated 80–400 nuclear weapons.
Israel never confirms the arsenal, but Dimona is its core.
Why Iran targets it?
Iran sees Dimona as proof of Israeli nuclear dominance.
Since March 2026, Tehran has threatened strikes on it.
Recent missiles triggered sirens in Dimona as retaliation for Israeli attacks on Iranian sites.
Why this matters?
A direct hit risks radioactive contamination from plutonium and spent fuel.
It could endanger Negev residents and cross Israel's ultimate red line.
Geopolitical turning point
Even a partial success ends Israel's nuclear ambiguity.
It breaks the regional nuclear taboo.
Gulf states may rush to build their own programs.
U.S. involvement deepens, oil markets spike, and the war turns existential.
Dimona is Israel's final insurance policy, and Iran aiming for it pushes the Middle East toward a dangerous new threshold.
Source: Yediot
