More than a month after the war began, Israel and the United States have carried out thousands of strikes, but about half of Iran’s missile launchers remain intact. That is according to a report overnight Thursday into Friday by CNN, citing updated US intelligence assessments. The report said Iran also retains thousands of suicide drones in its arsenal.
The assessment is based on US intelligence and three sources familiar with the matter, who said Iran’s launch capabilities remain significant. “It is still capable of causing destruction in the region,” one source told the network.
The intelligence estimate may include launchers that are not accessible, such as those buried under rubble but not fully destroyed in Israeli and US strikes. According to the report, Iran still possesses thousands of drones, nearly half of its original stockpile. Recently collected intelligence indicates that a large portion of Iran’s cruise missiles remains intact. These missiles are a key tool Iran can use to threaten and disrupt shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a speech Thursday, President Donald Trump said Iran’s ability to launch missiles and drones had been “dramatically reduced,” adding that “their weapons factories and rocket launchers are being blown to pieces. Very few remain.” According to the report, however, Iran still holds a large number of missiles and launch capabilities.
Footage of a launcher strike in Iran
(Footage: IDF)
One of the sources also addressed Trump’s timeline of two to three weeks to end the war, calling it unrealistic given Iran’s remaining arsenal. “We can keep hitting them, I have no doubt about that, but you are completely crazy if you think this can be done in two weeks,” the source said.
Israeli military officials who spoke to CNN said the number of operational launchers remaining in Iran is lower, about 25%. The report noted that Israel does not count inaccessible launchers buried under rubble from the strikes. Earlier this week, ministers were briefed during a Cabinet meeting that the weapons remaining in Iran’s missile cities are very difficult to target, but that Iran has only a few hundred missiles left overall. According to those briefings, Iran retains about 300 to 400 ballistic missiles.
In addition, Israel and the United States have struck hundreds of launchers, but more than half of Iran’s total launcher inventory remains.