Israel says 300 Iranian missile launchers destroyed after six days of strikes

Wednesday 04 March 2026 - 07:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Israel says 300 Iranian missile launchers destroyed after six days of strikes

Israeli forces say about 300 Iranian ballistic missile launchers have been destroyed during the first six days of a joint U.S. and Israeli air campaign, but Iran’s extensive network of underground missile facilities continues to challenge efforts to eliminate the country’s missile capabilities.

The strikes are part of “Operation Epic Fury,” launched on February 28, which has targeted thousands of military sites across Iran. While the campaign has reduced the intensity of Iranian missile attacks, analysts say deeply buried infrastructure and mobile launch systems remain significant obstacles.

To strike hardened underground facilities, the United States deployed stealth B-2 bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. According to defense reporting cited by The War Zone, the aircraft began operations overnight on February 28 in a move aimed at threatening some of Iran’s most protected military assets. U.S. Central Command also confirmed that B-1 bombers carried out nighttime strikes targeting ballistic missile infrastructure deep inside Iranian territory.

Satellite imagery analysis published by The New York Times identified damage at several suspected underground missile bases. However, the report noted that many of Iran’s most advanced Shahab-3 missiles and their production infrastructure are believed to be stored beneath mountains, making them difficult to destroy from the air.

Images released by the Critical Threats Project showed impacts from bunker-penetrating bombs at multiple sites, including the Imam Ali missile base in Lorestan province, where Shahab-3 missiles are reportedly stored. Another facility, the Amand missile base, is believed to house medium-range Ghadr ballistic missiles.

The Israeli military said on March 3 that the destruction of hundreds of launchers had contributed to a significant drop in Iranian missile barrages against Israel. Iran launched at least 20 separate missile salvos on the first day of the conflict, but by March 3 that number had fallen to roughly six.

The U.S. Central Command said American forces are continuing to track and target mobile launch systems, releasing footage of precision strikes on missile launch vehicles.

Despite the decline in attack volume, Iran has continued to launch missiles. On March 3, a missile carrying a cluster warhead struck near Tel Aviv, injuring at least 12 people. Since the start of the conflict, Iranian strikes have killed at least 11 people and wounded more than 1,000 in Israel.

Iran has also launched hundreds of missiles and drones toward Gulf states. Authorities in the United Arab Emirates reported that 174 ballistic missiles and 689 drones were directed at their territory during the escalation.

Iran had strengthened its underground facilities before the campaign began. Satellite images reported by the BBC in February showed construction crews reinforcing tunnel entrances with fresh concrete at the Pickaxe Mountain site near Natanz, which analysts believe could shelter uranium enrichment equipment.

The Institute for Science and International Security assessed that the modifications were likely designed to improve protection against air strikes. U.S. President Donald Trump said the campaign aims to destroy Iran’s missile and military capabilities. However, some analysts question whether air power alone can achieve that objective given the depth, dispersion, and fortification of Iran’s underground infrastructure.