News- Middle East: Israeli lawmakers have visited the ruins of the renowned military-affiliated Weizmann Institute of Science, wrecked by Iran’s retaliatory missile strikes on the occupied territories.

On Sunday, Members of the Israeli Knesset’s (MKs) Science and Technology Committee, led by Yasir Hujeirat, toured the institute, which was rendered dysfunctional and devastated by Iran's precision missile strikes on June 15.

During the visit, the Institute’s President Alon Chen informed the Israeli lawmakers that the damage was of an unprecedented scale, estimating the cost to range between 1.5 and 2 billion shekels (about $450 to $600 million).

“Some labs have been completely shut down due to the shock caused by the missile impact. This is a substantial blow to Israel’s scientific research hub,” he added.

Chen also called for emergency funding, noting that about 60 percent of foreign researchers have left since Iran launched its attacks in response to last month’s Israeli-US aggression.

Approximately 112 structures on the institute’s campus were damaged while five structures were severely damaged, including one that collapsed completely, he said.

Dozens of other structures were damaged to varying degrees, critical infrastructure was shut down, and 52 research laboratories, along with six service laboratories, went out of service.

“It saddens us to be here today due to the extensive damage caused by an Iranian attack. We would have preferred to come under different circumstances,” Hujeirat said at the conclusion of the visit.

Long considered one of the most prominent scientific powerhouses of the Israeli regime, the Weizmann Institute of Science maintained deep ties with both the Israeli military and the Mossad intelligence agency.

Its partnership extended to Elbit Systems, the regime’s leading weapons manufacturer with branches across the US, the UK, and beyond.

The institute was among the strategic sites hit by the Iranian Armed Forces across the occupied lands in retaliation for the 12-day Israeli war against the Islamic Republic that started on June 13 and that the US officially joined on June 22. 

On June 24, Iran, through its successful retaliatory operations against both the Israeli regime and the US, managed to impose a halt to the illegal aggression.

Source: Press TV