ISTANBUL

US President Donald Trump is open to launching military strikes on Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility, a source familiar with intelligence matters told ABC News on Wednesday.

The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said any operation would likely involve several strikes on the underground site, located near the Iranian city of Qom.

“There is now a movement to get ready for this,” the source said.

The Fordow nuclear facility is an underground uranium enrichment site – the country’s deepest and most fortified nuclear installation designed to withstand conventional airstrikes.

Israel’s National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi told Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 on Tuesday that Israel’s attacks on Iran “will not end without damaging the Fordow nuclear facility.”

Hanegbi said Israel is continuing dialogue with the US but is not trying to convince Washington to join any operation.

Regional tensions have escalated since Friday, when Israel launched airstrikes on multiple sites across Iran, including military and nuclear facilities, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes.

Israeli authorities said at least 24 people have been killed and hundreds injured since then in Iranian missile attacks.​​​​​​​

Meanwhile, in Iran, 585 people have been killed and more than 1,300 wounded in the Israeli assault, according to Iranian media reports.