Satellite analysis reviewed by The New York Times indicates that underground ballistic-missile bases Iran rebuilt after the June 2025 raids have become targets again in the latest U.S.-Israeli campaign. Since the new round of strikes that began on February 28, imagery analysts say several hardened facilities and surface support structures show signs of recent damage, suggesting a deliberate effort to degrade Iran’s long-range strike capability.
Washington has made destroying Iran’s ballistic-missile forces a stated priority of its campaign, but analysts warn that eliminating an under‑ground, widely dispersed missile production and storage network without ground forces is extremely difficult. Iran has long relied on ballistic missiles to project power beyond its borders; Chinese-language reporting and open-source assessments identify one of its most capable systems as the “Liuxing-3” (Meteor‑3), with an estimated range of more than 1,200 miles. Many missiles and their production infrastructure are believed to be sited underground, complicating targeting.
U.S. forces have used B‑2 stealth bombers and 2,000‑pound class penetrating warheads against “hardened ballistic-missile facilities,” a U.S. military social-media post and public statements about strikes make clear. The weapons involved are likely BLU‑109 or similar earth‑penetrating warheads designed to punch through rock or reinforced concrete before detonating, a choice that reflects the need to reach buried chambers rather than simply destroy exposed structures.
Satellite imagery shows extensive damage at some sites. Analysts point to a ballistic missile complex near Kermanshah where several surface buildings appear destroyed, and to installations near Isfahan that were rebuilt after the June 2025 strikes but are now again heavily damaged. The U.S. Central Command has said that, by February 24th, coalition strikes had hit more than 1,700 targets inside Iran. Open-source analyses, however, have not been able to confirm that missile-production lines themselves have been completely destroyed.
Striking underground facilities across a country roughly the size of Alaska presents a difficult intelligence and operational problem. Penetrator bombs increase the number of aircraft that can pose a threat to subterranean targets, but accuracy of entry-point identification remains decisive. The campaign’s immediate aim appears to be suppressing Iran’s ability to launch long-range strikes, yet the limits of stand-off airpower, the prospect of Iranian asymmetric retaliation and the long timelines for rebuilding hardened infrastructure all mean this phase of the conflict may not decisively change the regional military balance.