Did Israel Destroy One-Third of Iran's Missiles in Three Days?

The Middle East conflict is entering another terrifying phase. Israel has announced that during a military operation called "Returning Lion," it significantly weakened Iran’s missile capabilities. According to official Tel Aviv sources, three days of airstrikes resulted in the destruction of one-third of Iran’s launch systems.

Israel’s Ministry of Defense reports that Tehran planned to launch 60 ballistic missiles, but only managed to fire 40 — the rest were either destroyed before launch or neutralized mid-air. Israeli authorities consider this a major success in preventing a large-scale attack.

Additionally, Israeli officials claim Iran is attempting to overload the country’s air defense system by stockpiling up to 8,000 missiles. The Israeli army states that Tehran is targeting civilian areas; however, observers note that over 220 people — most of them women and children — have been killed due to recent Israeli strikes.

According to official statements, the Israeli army has targeted over 170 strategic sites, including nuclear program headquarters, fuel depots, and defense plants. Nine scientists working on nuclear weapons were reportedly killed during the attacks. It is acknowledged that this operation was prepared over several years, although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the planning took eight months.

Meanwhile, Iran has yet to comment on Israel’s claims of having destroyed part of its missile arsenal. Open sources indicate that since June 13, Iran has launched more than 270 missiles and drones. The country reportedly possesses thousands of ballistic missiles and hundreds of drones, including the Shahed-136. However, the extent of damage to Iran's arsenal remains unclear.

Former IRGC commander Mohsen Rezaei said that Iran has so far only used older missiles with 1.5-ton explosive warheads. He promised that future strikes would be “much stronger” and stated that Iran’s true capabilities have yet to be unleashed.

In a rare televised address, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Israel of “starting the war” and said it would be held fully accountable. He vowed a “firm and painful response that will bring the Zionist regime to its knees.”

Iranian officials and the IRGC have described their strikes against Israel as “powerful and precise revenge” and warned that if Israel or its allies continue the escalation, further attacks will follow. Iran’s operation is being called “True Promise III.” Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!