IDF: One-Third of Iranian Intermediate-Range Missile Systems Destroyed

The Israeli Defense Forces claim to have destroyed a third of all Iranian ballistic missile launchers that reached its country.

This was stated by Brigadier General Effie Defrin, spokesman for the Israeli Defense Forces, during a press conference on Monday.

It is about the destruction of 120 missile systems, which may indicate that Israeli intelligence officers estimate Iran’s missile potential at 360 launchers.

The spokesperson noted that this was preceded by the seizure of “complete air superiority” by Israeli tactical aviation, in particular, over the Iranian capital Tehran.

It is important to clarify that it is precisely the intermediate-range ballistic missile systems that are at issue, as they are the only ones capable of crossing the distance of about 1300-1500 kilometers between the two countries.

The statement of the military leadership is partially confirmed by the published footage of the destruction of medium-range missile systems such as Kheibar Shekan and Ghadr. The video below shows the destruction of several installations with missiles similar to Haj Qasem.

A possible confirmation of the success of Israeli aviation may also be a sharp decline in the number of rockets fired: on the night of June 17 only 30 rockets were fired at Israel, which is a relatively modest figure compared to previous waves of strikes that numbered up to a hundred units.

At the same time, it is worth noting that estimates of Iran’s stockpile of missiles and systems may be incorrect. The launchers themselves can be built in a short time, as they have a fairly simple design and in many places rely on the use of civilian solutions.

The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps hides a significant portion of its ballistic missile launchers and stockpiles deep underground in an extensive network of “missile cities.” Accordingly, this imposes significant limitations not only on destruction, but also on intelligence.

Iran’s strike capabilities at such distances are not limited to ballistic missiles alone and include the use of cruise missiles and long-range kamikaze drones.

Israeli aviation during the “Lion Nation” operation also actively targeted the crews of these systems. In particular, they recently destroyed three Shahed-136 drone launchers.

The Israeli army units had been tracking their movements for several days to strike at the moment they were preparing to launch.