Even after enduring the US-Israeli attacks for more than a month, around half of Iran's ballistic missile launchers remain intact. The information, in a recent US intelligence report, reveals that certain remaining missile launchers are still inaccessible, mainly due to being buried under debris amid the waves of strikes.
Citing three intelligence sources familiar with the matter, CNN reported that Iran is still capable of plunging the entire region into a state of devastation. Israel said in March that it had crippled around 60 percent of Tehran's estimated 470 ballistic missile launchers. However, the difference between the two estimates could be attributed to a variation in how Tel Aviv and Washington classify launchers that are intact but not accessible, the report indicated.
What does Israel's assessment say?
By Israel's assessment, nearly 200 missile launchers were destroyed in attacks. Meanwhile, another 80 are not deemed operational after the Israeli Air Force hit tunnel entrances to subterranean facilities where they are kept. US intelligence assessments have further suggested that the Islamic Republic still has thousands of attack drones, which are kept ready for use.
Iran holds a large percentage of cruise missiles
The report mentioned that Iran also remains in possession of "a large percentage" of cruise missiles designed for coastal defense, threatening shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Additionally, sources said that while the navy has mostly been neutralized, the naval forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have successfully preserved half of its operational capacity. This includes "hundreds, if not thousands, of small boats and unmanned surface vessels," the Times of Israel reported.
What does the US intelligence report say?
The US intelligence report states that Iran has stockpiled its missile launchers and other weaponry in hidden underground tunnels, making them extremely difficult to locate. Since the beginning of the war, Tehran has reportedly launched over 500 ballistic missiles at Israel, with the IDF reporting a 92 percent interception rate.
Trump calls Israel a 'team player
US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that Israel will follow his orders and stop strikes if he decides to end the war. "They'll stop, unless they're provoked, in which case, they'll have no choice, but they'll stop when I stop," he added.