Iranian Missiles and Drones Persist Despite US-Israeli Bombing

Despite nearly four weeks of heavy bombardment, Iran continued daily missile and drone attacks on Gulf neighbors and Israel.

“What do we know about Iranian missiles and their capabilities”

BBC

NBC News counted dozens of ballistic missiles and drones launched daily across the region.

BBC

Iran has kept much of its arsenal hidden underground with fast recovery and redeployment.

The Israeli military said 70% of missile launchers were disabled by day 16.

The Pentagon claimed it had degraded about 90% of Iran’s ballistic missile and drone capabilities.

The New York Times reported that the downing of an American F-15E showed Iran retained strike ability.

Qatar and the UAE announced their air defenses had intercepted waves of missiles and drones launched from Iranian territory.

The UAE intercepted nine ballistic missiles, six cruise missiles, and 148 drones in a single engagement.

CNN Arabic

At least two refineries were set on fire by drone strikes or falling debris in the Gulf.

The BBC noted Iran launched more missiles in four days against the Gulf than in the previous war with Israel.

Iranian media celebrated the downing of multiple American and Israeli aircraft.

“Unlike the United States, Ali Larijani, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, on the third day of the Iran war indicated that the Islamic Republic had prepared to wage a long war”

DW

NBC acknowledged the campaign was designed to decimate Iran's missile and drone programs.

Experts said the missile program could be crushed but drones were more difficult to neutralize.

Drones operate at far lower cost yet with devastating effect.

The Israeli army assumed Iran possessed about 2,500 ballistic missiles at the start of the war.

Gulf officials said Iran's military capabilities cannot remain as they are.

Saudi Arabia wants to weaken Tehran's missiles as much as possible before the war ends.

Haaretz

The UAE's diplomatic adviser said thinking moves toward solutions that ensure sustainable security.

American officials said they are pursuing similar objectives.

The deterrence calculus that kept Gulf states on the sidelines had unraveled.