Iran War Live Updates: U.S. Fighter Jet, a Missing Airman and Trump’s 48-Hour Deadline

Iran Continues to Struggle with Missile Strikes

Despite claims of substantial progress by the Pentagon and White House, American intelligence agencies have cast doubt on how close the United States is to destroying Iran's missile capability, a key goal in the war. Iran has continued to strike at Israel, even with its reduced arsenal and more careful use of launchers.

Iran Retains Significant Missile and Mobile Launcher Capabilities

Iranian operatives have been digging out underground missile bunkers and silos struck by American and Israeli bombs, returning them to operation hours after an attack, according to U.S. intelligence reports. The country has also retained a significant amount of its missiles and mobile launchers, the reports say.

U.S. Intelligence Agencies Raise Concerns Over Iran's Missile Capability

While the U.S. has struck 11,000 targets in Iran in five weeks of war, American intelligence agencies have expressed concerns over the remaining launchers with high confidence. Iran retains the ability to use its remaining arsenal of ballistic missiles and missile launchers to attack Israel and other countries in the region, according to American officials briefed on the intelligence.

Iran's Rate of Missile and Drone Launches Has Fallen Sharply

However, Iran's rate of missile and drone launches has fallen sharply since the beginning of the war. Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks are down 90 percent, their navy is wiped out, two-thirds of their production facilities are damaged or destroyed, and the United States and Israel have overwhelming air dominance over Iran, according to the White House.

Iran's Strategy to Retain Missile Launch Capacity

American officials believe that Iran is keeping more of its launchers in bunkers and caves to protect them from attack. Iran wants to retain as much of its missile launch capacity as it can, so that it can continue to apply pressure if the war drags on, or threaten the region after it ends.