The Israeli military lacks the capability to fully destroy Iran’s heavily fortified underground “missile cities” hidden deep inside mountainous terrain, an Israeli Air Force source has admitted.
Israeli media outlets, quoting the unnamed air force official, reported that despite repeated airstrikes, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) cannot completely eliminate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) facilities that house much of Tehran’s ballistic missile arsenal.
These vast underground complexes, often carved into mountains, are designed to withstand aerial bombardment and serve as protected storage and launch sites for Iran’s extensive missile inventory.
The admission highlights the limitations of Israel’s ongoing air campaign against Iranian military infrastructure amid the escalating conflict between the two nations, which has also drawn in the United States.
While Israeli and US forces have reportedly used drones for constant surveillance and struck launchers as they emerge from tunnel exits, the source indicated that the core underground infrastructure remains largely intact and impervious to total destruction from the air.
Analysts have long noted that Iran’s “missile cities” strategy relies on natural geological fortifications, making comprehensive neutralisation extremely difficult without ground operations – an option widely considered unfeasible in the current regional context.
The revelation comes as both sides continue to trade strikes, with Iran maintaining its ability to launch ballistic missiles despite significant damage to surface-level assets and air defences.
Israeli officials have previously claimed major successes in degrading Iran’s missile capabilities, including the destruction of numerous launchers and production facilities. However, the air force source’s comments suggest that the deeply buried sites continue to pose a persistent strategic challenge.
Neither the IDF nor Iranian officials have issued immediate official responses to the reported assessment.
