The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that it has destroyed more than 120 surface-to-surface missile launch sites in Iran. According to their statement, this amounts to nearly one-third of Iran’s entire missile arsenal. The operation took place during four days of intense conflict between Israel and Iran and was part of Israel’s preemptive “Operation Rising Lion.”
The Israeli Air Force targeted approximately 100 military sites in central Iran, particularly around Isfahan. These included missile depots, command centers, and launch systems used by both the Iranian military and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force.
Around 50 fighter jets and other aircraft reportedly participated in the airstrikes. In one incident, Israeli warplanes destroyed over 20 Iranian missiles just minutes before they were launched at Israeli territory.
According to the IDF, the strikes significantly disrupted Iran’s missile operations, allowing only about half of the intended launches to occur. The destruction of these launch sites is said to be aimed at weakening Iran’s missile and potential nuclear threat capabilities.
The conflict has inflicted considerable damage on both sides. Israel reports that Iran launched around 370 ballistic missiles and deployed hundreds of drones against it. These attacks resulted in at least 24 Israeli deaths and over 500 injuries. On the Iranian side, since the hostilities began, at least 224 people have been reported killed.
The IDF further claimed it has established air superiority around Tehran, enabling Israeli aircraft to conduct operations near the Iranian capital with minimal resistance from Iran’s air defenses.
Despite the extensive Israeli air campaign, Iran continues to launch missile and drone strikes in retaliation. Iranian officials have accused Israel of targeting strategic routes, including those near the Strait of Hormuz, and escalating the conflict further.
While the IDF released detailed visuals to support their claims about the destruction of Iran’s missile infrastructure, these reports have not been independently verified. International outlets, including CNN, note that external confirmation of Israel’s estimate—that one-third of Iran’s missile launch capability was neutralized—remains unavailable.
As both nations continue to exchange missile and drone attacks, the regional conflict has sharply intensified, raising concerns about broader destabilization in the Middle East.