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[Herald Economy=Reporter Lee Won-yul] U.S. intelligence officials tell CNN that Iran still retains a significant missile-launch capability, CNN reported April 3. The Trump administration has repeatedly emphasized that it is pursuing a military victory in its campaign against Iran.
Three sources familiar with the intelligence told CNN that over the past five weeks U.S. and Israeli forces have carried out daily strikes on military targets, but roughly half of Iran’s missile launchers remain intact.
One source said the tally likely includes launchers that were buried underground by strikes but not destroyed, leaving them currently inaccessible.
“Iran remains ready to wreak widespread havoc across the region,” one source said.
Two sources told analysts that thousands of Iran’s attack drones remain in the country’s arsenals — about 50% of its overall drone fleet.
That assessment stands in contrast to public statements from President Donald Trump and senior administration officials asserting a military victory.
In a nationally televised address on April 1, President Trump said, “Iran’s missile and drone launch capabilities have been dramatically degraded,” adding, “Weapons factories and rocket launchers have been shattered — there’s almost nothing left.”
White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly pushed back, accusing anonymous sources of trying to undermine the president and diminish the “remarkable achievements” U.S. forces carried out to meet the objectives of Operation “Majestic Fury.”
U.S. intelligence also assesses that Iran can restore missile bunkers within hours after U.S. and Israeli strikes.
The New York Times reported a recent U.S. intelligence assessment found Iran is digging out underground missile bunkers and storage sites shortly after airstrikes and can get launch facilities back online within hours.
Even when bunkers appear destroyed from the outside, Iran reportedly quickly excavates launchers and returns them to service.
Israel’s daily Haaretz has reported that Iran uses bulldozers to unearth missile launchers buried in underground bunkers.
Kelly has said Iran’s ballistic missile and drone attacks have fallen by roughly 90% from earlier in the fighting, that Iran’s navy has been effectively neutralized, and that about two-thirds of its production facilities have been damaged or destroyed. She added that U.S. and Israeli forces maintain overwhelming air superiority over Iranian airspace.
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