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Newsweek
a day ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Iran's Missile Arsenal: What It Has Used and What It Could Deploy
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Iran launched a significant missile barrage on major cities across Israel on Friday. Nationwide alerts have been issued, with residents urged to seek shelter immediately, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said. "At this time, the Air Force is working to intercept and attack wherever necessary to eliminate the threat," the IDF added. The missile attacks come amid an escalating war that began last week after Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian military sites. Since then, Tehran has fired over 400 missiles into Israel, marking one of the largest missile campaigns in recent regional history. This raises urgent questions about how many missiles Iran has left and what lies ahead in the conflict. Newsweek has reached out to the foreign of Iran and Israel for comment. Why It Matters Missiles are central to Iran's strategy against Israel, shaping the conflict's scale and duration. Tracking how many missiles Iran has launched—and how many remain—offers critical insight into the war's future intensity and the effectiveness of missile defenses. While Iran's missile threat deters wider regional escalation, the size and condition of its missile reserves remain unclear, leaving uncertainty about Tehran's ability to sustain pressure. Meanwhile, increased U.S. military support for Israel and warnings of possible intervention raise the stakes, complicating Iran's missile strategy and broader regional stability. A surface-to-air missile system is on display as heavy weaponry, including ballistic missiles, air defense systems and unmanned aerial vehicles, are showcased during an exhibition that marks the 44th anniversary of the 8-year war with... A surface-to-air missile system is on display as heavy weaponry, including ballistic missiles, air defense systems and unmanned aerial vehicles, are showcased during an exhibition that marks the 44th anniversary of the 8-year war with Iraq, known as the "Holy Defense Week", in Baharestan Square in Tehran, Iran on September 26, 2024. MoreWhat To Know Since the start of the Israel conflict, Iran has launched over 400 ballistic missiles targeting Israeli cities and military sites. These include older models like the Ghadr and Emad, as well as the Kheibar Shekan, a medium-range, solid-fuel missile with improved maneuverability. Crucially, Tehran has also used the Fattah-1 hypersonic missile, which travels at speeds up to Mach 15, making interception extremely difficult. Advanced Missiles While Iran has launched many missile types, some advanced systems remain largely unused in the current conflict. These include the Khorramshahr, a liquid-fueled missile capable of striking up to 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles) with a payload around 1,500 kg (3,307 lb). Earlier, Iranian media outlets linked to the country's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) did share a video showing the launch of a Khorramshahr but footage that is now circulating widely online is from a test in 2023, and there do not appear to be explicit claims from Iran about its use. Iran's MOD unveils Khoramshahr-4 missile Specs: - liquid-fuel propellant - Range: 2000Km - Warhead: 1500Kg This is a strong message to enemies, not to resort into any folly & to the allies that Iran is ready to aid them maintain peace in the region. — 𝐄𝐡𝐬𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐣𝐚𝐝 🇮🇷🇵🇸 (@Safarnejad_IR) May 25, 2023 Missile Stockpile Before the conflict, multiple intelligence assessments—including those cited by experts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)—estimated Iran's operational ballistic missile stockpile at around 2,000 missiles. However, no official or recent public figure confirms the exact number. Considering the volume of missiles launched and intercepted, some estimates suggest Tehran may now have fewer than 1,000 missiles left in its arsenal. This figure remains unverified and uncertain, especially as Iran reportedly relocates launchers and conceals stockpiles to maintain its operational capabilities. Israeli Response Israel's multi-layered defense system—including Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Arrow 2 and 3 interceptors—has stopped many incoming missiles. Still, some have breached defenses, striking urban areas, military bases, and key infrastructure, showing the limits of even advanced systems. Offensively, Israel has launched over 250 airstrikes and dropped more than 330 precision-guided bombs on Iranian targets. These strikes have mainly targeted missile production sites, storage depots, and launchers, but have also hit civilian infrastructure, including residential areas, according to local media. While Israel says the attacks aim to degrade Tehran's strike capacity, collateral damage on both sides has raised concern among international observers. A member of the Israeli security forces walks past a damaged building a day after of an Iranian missile strike in Ramat Gan, Israel, Friday, June 20, 2025. A member of the Israeli security forces walks past a damaged building a day after of an Iranian missile strike in Ramat Gan, Israel, Friday, June 20, 2025. Leo Correa/AP Photo What Happens Next As missile exchanges escalate, both Iran and Israel appear committed to continued strikes. The U.S. has urged restraint while increasing surveillance and regional deployments. International governments are calling for de-escalation amid rising civilian casualties, but so far, diplomatic efforts have failed to slow the pace of the conflict.
Leaders
7 days ago
- Politics
- Leaders
Iran-Israel Escalation: Houthis Join Fighting, UK Moves Assets to Middle East
Iran and Israel have traded strikes for the third day in a row, amid growing fears of a prolonged conflict between the longstanding foes that could drag the region into an all-out war. On Sunday, Israel expanded its offensive by targeting Iranian oil infrastructure and Defense Ministry headquarters, while Iran launched a new barrage of strikes that penetrated air defenses in the north and center of Israel. Meanwhile, the Houthis launched coordinated strikes against Israel and the UK moved more assets to the region. Striking Targets in Tehran The Israeli military said it had launched an extensive series of strikes against nuclear sites in Tehran. The targets included the headquarters of the Iranian Defense Ministry and Iran's Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND) nuclear project. It also included other targets, which 'advanced the Iranian regime's efforts to obtain a nuclear weapon and where the Iranian regime hid its nuclear archive,' the Israeli military said in a statement. The attack on the Defense Ministry headquarters caused minor damage, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. Furthermore, the Israeli strikes hit the Shahran oil and gasoline depot northwest of Tehran and another reservoir south of the city, Iranian media reported citing the Oil Ministry. The strikes triggered a massive fire at the Shahran depot, a major oil and gasoline distribution center for Tehran and cities on its west, with 11 tanks. The Israeli strikes killed 78 people on Friday, and dozens more on Saturday, with 60 killed in a missile strike on a 14-storey apartment block in Tehran, including 29 children, Iran said. Iranian Missiles Hit Israel Late on Saturday into Sunday, Iranian missiles managed to penetrate air defenses in the north and center of Israel, killing at least 10 people and wounding more than 180, reported the Guardian. Iran launched a wave of missiles late on Saturday toward Jerusalem and Haifa. Then, a second barrage hit Bat Yam, a city south of Tel Aviv, killing 6 people and causing 7 others to go missing, according to Israeli emergency services. Moreover, an Iranian airstrike killed at least four people in the northern city of Tamra. The Iranian Mehr news agency reported that Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) targeted Israel's fighter jets fuel production facilities and energy supply lines with a massive barrage of missiles and drones. The IRGC's spokesperson, Ali Mohammad Naeini, said that the strikes were part of Iran's response to the Israeli aggression, adding that the Iranian offensive operations will continue 'with even greater force and scale' if the Israeli aggression does not stop. Iranian media reports said that the IRGC used Emad, Ghadr, and Kheibar Shekan missiles in its latest strike against Israel, targeting Haifa and Tel Aviv. Houthis Join Iran-Israel Fighting The Houthi rebel group in Yemen announced on Sunday that they hit Israel with ballistic missiles in coordination with Iran to be the first Iranian-backed group to join the attacks, reported Reuters. In a televised speech, the group's spokesperson, Yehia Sarea, said that the Houthis launched several ballistic missiles towards Jaffa in central Israel over the past 24 hours. 'Triumphing for the oppressed Palestinian and Iranian peoples…This operation was coordinated with the operations carried out by the Iranian army against the criminal Israeli enemy,' he said. Since the outbreak of Gaza war in October 2023, the Houthis have been targeting Israel with missile attacks, most of which intercepted, in solidarity with Palestine. In response, Israel carried out a retaliatory campaign against the rebel group, striking their military sites in Yemen. Pakistani Support Following Israeli attacks on Iran, Pakistan on Saturday expressed solidarity with Iran. During a phone call with the Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, the Pakistani Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, said that Pakistan 'stood in full solidarity' with the Iranian people and government, denouncing Israel's blatant provocations and adventurism as a grave threat to regional and global peace and stability, according to a statement released by his office. Earlier on Saturday, Pakistan's Defense Minister, Khawaja Asif, expressed full diplomatic support to Iran, calling on the Muslim world to adopt a 'unified strategy' to counter Israel. 'Just as Israel is currently targeting Yemen, Iran, and Palestine, if the Muslim world does not unite today and continues to prioritize its own interests and agendas, then everyone's turn will come,' he said during an address to the National Assembly. UK Moves Assets to Mideast Amid the intense fighting between Iran and Israel, the UK is moving more jets and other military assets to the Middle East to provide 'contingency support' in the region, the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, told reporters on the plane to the G7 summit, according to the Guardian. Starmer declined to say whether the UK would participate in helping Israel confront Iranian drone and missile strikes. 'These are obviously operational decisions and the situation is ongoing and developing and therefore I'm not going to get into the precise details,' he said. The UK move came despite Iranian warnings that any involvement to support Israel could make British bases in the region a legitimate target for Iran. US Threats The US President, Donald Trump, has threatened Tehran of unprecedented consequences if it attacked American targets. On Saturday, following a spectacular military parade in Washington, Trump denied US involvement in Israel's latest attack on Iran, urging both sides to reach a deal to end the conflict. 'The US had nothing to do with the attack on Iran, tonight. If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the US Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before. However, we can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. Separately, Axios reported that Israel has asked the US over the past two days to join its war against Iran and help in destroying the Fordo uranium enrichment site. However, the Trump administration has so far distanced itself from the Israeli operation. Israel needs the US help to reach the Fordo site, located between mountains and extending deep underground. The US possesses the bunker buster bombs and large bomber aircraft that Israel needs to destroy the site. Failure to halt Fordo operations will mean that Israel failed in achieving its goal of eliminating Iran's nuclear program. Short link :
