[News] Iran refines missile strategy as strikes grow more effective

[Anti-Imperialist News]

english.almayadeen.net
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/iran-refines-missile-strategy-as-strikes-grow-more-effective>
Iran refines missile strategy as strikes grow more effective: Reports
Al Mayadeen English
March 25, 2026
------------------------------

Iran is increasing the effectiveness of its missile strikes through
precision targeting and rapid stockpile recovery, raising concerns about
the limits of Israeli air defenses.

   - [image: Israeli security forces survey the site that was struck by an
   Iranian missile in Dimona, southern occupied Palestine, Sunday, March 22,
   2026. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)]
   <https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2026/3/25/a2b7db44-ab2a-4946-a95a-5f10a8d3ce7e.jpg?width=1000>
   Israeli security forces survey the site that was struck by an Iranian
   missile in Dimona, southern occupied Palestine, Sunday, March 22, 2026. (AP
   Photo/Ariel Schalit)

*Bloomberg* on Wednesday reported that Iran has adapted its missile
doctrine under sustained US-Israeli aggression, shifting toward fewer but
more precise long-range strikes that are yielding increasing battlefield
impact.

Despite more than three weeks of continuous airstrikes targeting Iranian
infrastructure, Tehran continues to operate from hardened and
geographically dispersed launch sites, particularly in eastern Iran,
complicating interception efforts and preserving strategic capabilities.

Recent strikes over the weekend, which injured more than 100 in the
occupied Palestinian territories, included hits on Dimona
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/iranian-missiles-expose-gaps-in--israel-s--air-defenses-near>,
home to "Israel’s" main nuclear research facility. Analysts cited by
*Bloomberg* indicated that the attacks likely involved Khorramshahr
missiles, among the longest-range and heaviest payload systems in Iran’s
arsenal, capable of being launched from deep inside Iranian territory.

Data reviewed by researchers points to a clear shift in operational
effectiveness. Since early March, as many as a quarter of Iranian missiles
are reportedly penetrating Israeli air defenses, a notable increase that
reflects a move away from earlier saturation tactics toward
precision-guided targeting.

Even Western analysts acknowledge the shift. Kelly Grieco of the Stimson
Center noted that Iran, despite sustained pressure, is becoming more
efficient in imposing costs through carefully selected strikes. Similarly,
Nicole Grajewski of the Carnegie Endowment observed a transition toward
smaller salvos with disproportionately high impact rates.

This evolution suggests a deliberate strategy: exploiting structural
weaknesses
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/us-bases-across-region-are-point-of-vulnerability--not-stren>
in
layered air defense systems rather than relying solely on volume. Factors
such as interceptor depletion, radar disruptions, and diversified
trajectories are likely contributing to the growing penetration rate.

At the same time, Iran continues to field advanced missile systems,
including the solid-fuel Kheibar Shekan and Fattah-1
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/iranian-fattah-missile-a-challenge-to-israeli-anti-air-syste>.
The latter, featuring a maneuverable warhead and terminal-phase
acceleration, is specifically designed to evade interception and strike
high-value targets with precision. Its ability to maneuver within
atmospheric layers that fall between defense coverage zones further
complicates interception.
Missile resilience and production capacity

Separately, reporting by *The Washington Post* underscores growing concern
within Israeli security circles over Iran’s sustained missile production
and rapid recovery capacity.

Despite claims that Iran’s arsenal was significantly degraded during last
year’s 12-day war, Israeli officials acknowledged that Tehran quickly
rebuilt its production lines
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/-iran-resilient--far-from-collapse---israeli-media>,
restoring its stockpile to approximately 2,500 ballistic missiles before
the current escalation.

The pace of this recovery has raised alarm. A former senior Israeli
security official warned that existing air defense systems “cannot absorb
between 3,000 and 5,000 missiles,” pointing to a structural limitation in
"Israel’s" defensive capacity over a prolonged conflict.

At the same time, recent strikes that directly hit areas in Dimona and
Arad, despite "Israel’s" multi-layered air defense systems, have further
shaken confidence in interception reliability. Israeli officials themselves
concede that no system can provide complete protection, particularly under
sustained and evolving attack patterns.
Strategic implications

Taken together, the combination of increasing strike precision, operational
adaptation, and resilient production capacity indicates that Iran has not
only withstood sustained US-Israeli attacks but is actively refining its
deterrence posture.

Rather than degrading Iran’s capabilities, the ongoing campaign appears to
have accelerated a shift toward more efficient, adaptive, and strategically
calibrated missile use, allowing Tehran to continue imposing rising costs
across multiple fronts while maintaining long-term operational
sustainability.

*Read more: Israeli estimate: Iran missiles to persist even after weeks
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/israeli-estimate--iran-missiles-to-persist-even-after-weeks>*
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