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Iran Rapidly Rebuilds Missile Sites Despite U.S.-Israeli Strikes — Proving More Resilient Than Expected

  • Rob Glenn
  • April 3, 2026
Iran Rapidly Rebuilds Missile Sites Despite U.S.-Israeli Strikes — Proving More Resilient Than Expected

Iran has been rapidly restoring parts of its missile infrastructure following sustained U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, according to American intelligence assessments that suggest Tehran’s capabilities remain more resilient than publicly described. The findings have raised questions about how close Washington and its allies are to achieving one of their central war aims: significantly degrading Iran’s missile arsenal and launch capacity.

According to intelligence reports, Iranian operatives have been working to excavate and repair underground missile bunkers and silos that were struck during the campaign. In some cases, these sites have reportedly been brought back into operation within hours of being hit. The same assessments indicate that Iran has managed to preserve a substantial portion of its missile stockpile as well as its mobile launch systems, allowing it to maintain a continued threat across the region.

These conclusions contrast with recent public statements from U.S. officials highlighting the scale of the campaign. The Pentagon stated this week that approximately 12,300 targets in Iran had been struck over a five-week period, while senior administration officials emphasized what they described as meaningful degradation of Iranian military capabilities.

Despite those claims, intelligence officials have cautioned that Iran retains the ability to carry out ballistic missile strikes against Israel and potentially other regional targets. While precise figures remain uncertain, officials briefed on the intelligence said there is not yet high confidence in estimates of how many launchers remain operational.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has identified the “severe diminishing” of Iran’s missile launch capability as a key objective of the war effort. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also repeatedly pointed to what he described as declining Iranian attack activity. “Yes, they will still shoot some missiles, but we will shoot them down,” Hegseth said, adding that the previous 24 hours had seen the lowest number of Iranian missile and drone launches since the conflict began.

Administration officials have cited a sharp drop in the pace of Iranian attacks as evidence of progress. According to the White House, ballistic missile and drone strikes by Iran have decreased significantly since the early stages of the war. Officials have also pointed to broader damage, including what they describe as the destruction or impairment of a large share of Iran’s production facilities, along with effective U.S. and Israeli control of the airspace.

Intelligence assessments, however, suggest that part of the decline in launch activity may reflect strategic restraint rather than purely diminished capability. American officials believe Iran has shifted to protecting its remaining launch systems by storing them in hardened underground sites, including bunkers and caves, in an effort to preserve its arsenal for a prolonged conflict or future deterrence.

Even with a reduced rate of fire, Iran has continued missile operations against Israel. Current and former U.S. officials estimate that roughly 20 missiles per day have been launched, often in smaller groupings rather than large barrages. Other Western assessments indicate a daily range that can include both ballistic missiles and dozens of one-way attack drones.

Complicating the battlefield picture are internal challenges within Iran’s leadership structure. Former officials said divisions within the government have disrupted command and control processes, limiting the ability to coordinate large-scale, simultaneous missile launches.

Efforts to measure the full extent of the damage to Iran’s missile infrastructure have been hindered by uncertainty and deception tactics. Iran has reportedly deployed decoys to obscure the true number of operational launchers, making it difficult for U.S. forces to determine how many targets destroyed were genuine. Prewar estimates of Iran’s launcher inventory were themselves imprecise, further complicating current assessments.

Additionally, underground facilities initially believed to be disabled have in some cases been restored quickly. Reports indicate that Iranian teams have used heavy equipment to excavate buried launch systems from damaged bunkers, allowing them to return to service shortly after strikes.

Taken together, the intelligence findings indicate that while U.S. and Israeli operations have imposed measurable costs on Iran’s military infrastructure, Tehran retains a functional and adaptable missile capability. That remaining capacity continues to pose a threat, even as the overall tempo of attacks has declined.