Iran is hiding missiles for the ‘day after’, Israeli security officials warn

The Iranian “ballistic missile threat will not be destroyed” in the current round of fighting, Israeli security officials warned cabinet ministers on Sunday, according to a Channel 12 report.

The officials said the Islamic Republic is “trying to save what is possible from the nuclear sites” and is keeping some of its missile systems below ground with the intention to bring those out “the day after.” 

Some 1,200 bombs were dropped by Israel in the first 24 hours of its joint campaign with the U.S. in Operation Epic Fury and Operation Roaring Lion.

IDF officials say half of the Islamic Republic’s ballistic missile launchers have already been taken out. Israeli strikes in the summer of 2025 prevented the regime from producing an additional 1,500 launchers before the current U.S.-Israeli operation.

Before Israel launched Operation Rising Lion in June of last year, IDF Intelligence identified activities of the Iranian terrorist regime, indicating a significant increase in the pace of missile production, including an attempt to produce approximately 8,000 missiles by 2027, according to the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit. “These missiles constitute a real, direct, and existential threat to the State of Israel and to the Middle East,” the unit said on Sunday.

Since the military campaign began, the IDF has struck the Islamic Republic’s central explosives production site, where material for missile warheads, rockets, and drones were produced, as well as four manufacturing facilities used for missile engines and factories that produce anti-tank systems used by Hezbollah.

Authorities believe that continued strikes on other facilities will set back Iranian weapons development by years.

According to security officials, if the IDF security plans work as intended, Iran’s ballistic capabilities and its ability to rebuild them will be significantly reduced.

In response to the allied air operation, Iran has fired missiles at Israel and surrounding Gulf countries, targeting and hitting civilian buildings, including hotels, airports and shopping centers.