Sirens wailed in Tel Aviv. Tehran was on edge. And the skies lit up with rockets and airstrikes. What started as a volley of threats between Israel and Iran has now turned into an intense missile exchange. But as both sides fire back, the big question remains—can Iran keep up if this war drags on?
Iran fired dozens of missiles at Israel, promising its largest attack yet. The strikes came after Israel ordered evacuations in Tehran and bombed Iran’s state broadcaster, IRIB. That hit was personal—and symbolic. In response, Iran launched more than 180 ballistic missiles at Israel, according to its own media.
To strike Israeli cities from over 1,000 kilometers away, Iran used powerful, long-range missiles like the Emad and Ghadr-1. Even the hypersonic Fattah-1, capable of dodging many air defense systems, was reportedly in action. Experts also believe Iran used Kheibar Shekan and Qassem Basir missiles—known for their precision and stealth.
But despite its missile muscle, Iran’s strength may not last. The US says Iran had around 3,000 ballistic missiles before the latest strikes. These include a mix of short-range rockets and hypersonic weapons. It may be the largest missile arsenal in the region—but it’s not untouchable.
Israel has already destroyed over 120 Iranian missile launchers since operations began on June 13. That’s roughly a third of Iran’s launcher stock, according to the Israeli Defense Forces. In one bold strike, Israel even wiped out 20 missiles while they were being prepped for launch in central Iran, a key zone for missile operations.
An unnamed source told AFP that these hits cut Iran’s missile fire by half, reducing incoming barrages to fewer than 50 at a time. Israel’s Iron Dome and other air defense systems continue to intercept many of them.
The recent Iranian retaliation followed an Israeli drone and air attack that targeted sensitive nuclear and military sites in Iran. Key scientists and military officials were reportedly among the casualties.
Iran’s missile program is massive and dates back to before the 1979 revolution. It gained real momentum during the Iran-Iraq war and is now run by the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
But in the long run, especially with US support on Israel’s side, Iran may find it tough to keep up the pressure. The big question now—can Tehran do enough damage, fast enough, to force Israel to the negotiating table?
Also read: Global energy security at risk as Israel strikes Iranian oil and gas fields
