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A series of US and Israeli airstrikes has according to analysis sunk or crippled a minimum of 11 warships belonging to Iran since the weekend, recently obtained aerial photos reveal, with missile bases and atomic facilities also sustaining hits.

Images of the southern Konarak naval naval base and the Bandar Abbas installation, which is located on the Strait of Hormuz and is home to the main command of the Iranian navy, depict plumes of smoke rising from a number of warships on recent days.

Maritime Forces Incurred Substantial Damage

Among the targets eliminated was the IRINS Makran, Iran's largest naval vessel which had served as a drone carrier. Satellite images showed dark plumes pouring from the ship which had been stationed at the Bandar Abbas naval base.

Intelligence reports suggest that no fewer than five ships at the port were "hit or sunk". Imagery of the southern part of the port reveal plumes ascending from the IRINS Makran, while two other ships are visibly impacted, with one of them seen burning.

At Konarak, images reveal numerous harmed vessels, with intelligence reports identifying impacts on a half-dozen warships. Photos from Monday also demonstrate that several facilities at the base have been leveled.

"For a long time the Iranian regime has disrupted commercial vessels," an American commander stated. "Now, there is no vessel from Iran operational in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz or Gulf of Oman, and we will persist."

A number of vessels allegedly sunk may have been obscured in aerial photos by weather conditions or battle damage, or struck at sea, and have not been independently verified. Other accounts suggested that an Iranian vessel was going down off the coast of Sri Lankan waters, leading to a rescue operation.

Rocket Bases and Nuclear Facilities Hit

The destruction of Iranian missile bases and the stopping nuclear weapons development were declared as additional objectives of the military strikes. Satellite images also depicted impacts against the southerly Khorgu and north-western Tabriz facilities, and at the Konarak air air base, where missile storage facilities and fortifications were struck.

Over at the Choqa Balk-e drone unmanned aircraft site west of Kermanshah, extensive destruction was seen to sheds, underground facilities and unmanned aircraft systems.

Damage was also observed at a surveillance station at the Zahedan airbase airbase in eastern parts of the country, near the frontier with Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Significantly, the new round of attacks have apparently hit sites at the Natanz complex – considered at the heart of the country's nuclear programme. An international watchdog commented that the damaged buildings were used for entry to the site's below-ground nuclear plant and that "no radiological consequence" was likely.

Wider Impact and Analysis

Observers stated that the attacks appeared to have "significantly degraded" the Iran's naval ability to carry out standard operations using its largest warships. But, it was stressed that Tehran still has the ability to launch irregular strikes at sea through the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, midget subs and its so-called "shadow fleet" of oil ships.

The full scope of the damage caused to Iran's defense infrastructure is still uncertain, with strikes said to be continuing. Photos also indicates extensive destruction to the headquarters of the the IRGC in the capital Tehran.

A significant number of civilian buildings also are reported to have been hit in the capital and across the country since the fighting escalated. Reports of deaths from ground sources state that hundreds of non-combatants may have been lost their lives in the bombardment.

Amid continuing hostilities, review of aerial photographs will persist to assess the changing military landscape.