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Ballistic missile
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Ballistic missile

Long-range Iranian weapons system whose attacks decreased 90% by March 6 following US strikes on launch infrastructure.

Last refreshed: 14 March 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

Can missile defences keep pace with a three-thousand-warhead arsenal?

Timeline for Ballistic missile

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Background

US B-2 bombers struck hardened underground launch facilities with GBU-31 penetrating munitions in early March, cutting Iranian Ballistic missile attacks by roughly 90%. A fragment from an intercepted missile cratered Jerusalem's Old City. IDF Chief of Staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamir subsequently named European capitals as within range.

Ballistic Missiles follow a free-flight arc into the upper atmosphere before descending on their target, combining long range with speeds that compress warning times to minutes. Iran's arsenal, estimated at over 3,000 missiles by the US Defense Intelligence Agency, is the largest in the Middle East, built outside the nuclear framework to give Tehran coercive leverage without triggering non-proliferation sanctions. Systems range from the Shahab-3 (2,000 km) to the claimed hypersonic Fattah; all are operated by the IRGC Aerospace Force, which launched them as the primary long-range strike instrument against Israel, US bases, and Gulf infrastructure from February 2026.

Britain's decision to open bases to US operations drew an explicit Iranian ballistic missile threat. Diego Garcia and UK mainland sites were named as targets; Parliament was shut out of the base-access decision entirely.

Common Questions
What is a ballistic missile?
A Ballistic missile follows a free-flight arc through the upper atmosphere before descending on its target, combining range measured in thousands of kilometres with terminal speeds that leave defenders minutes to react.
How many ballistic missiles does Iran have?
The US Defense Intelligence Agency estimates Iran holds over 3,000 Ballistic Missiles, the largest arsenal in the Middle East. Systems include the Shahab-3, Emad, Khorramshahr, and the claimed hypersonic Fattah.Source: US Defense Intelligence Agency
Did Iranian missiles hit Jerusalem?
Debris from an intercepted Iranian Ballistic missile cratered Jerusalem's Old City in late March 2026, causing damage near historic sites.
Can Iranian missiles reach Europe?
IDF Chief of Staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamir stated that Iranian Ballistic Missiles could reach European capitals, the first explicit public acknowledgement of that range by an Israeli military official.
What did US bombers do to Iranian missiles?
US B-2 Spirit bombers struck hardened underground Iranian Ballistic missile launch facilities with GBU-31 penetrating munitions in early March 2026, reducing Iranian missile attacks by approximately 90%.
Source Material
Iran's missile arsenal: What weapons does it have?Iranian ballistic missilesIran — Missile ThreatIran's Missile ProgramIranian missile programBallistic missile