Israeli strikes have 'severely damaged' Iran's ability to launch large salvos, IDF says

A preemptive strike deep inside Iran hit ballistic missile sites preparing to launch at Israel early this morning, reports in Hebrew media said. 

The reports claim that Iran was preparing to launch around 50 ballistic missiles following the U.S. strikes on Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, however, the final amount was less than that. 

IDF strikes since the launch of Operation Rising Lion have targeted strategically important missile headquarters and sites in central Iran, including a wave of strikes which destroyed eight launchers, six of them ready to be fired at Israel on Saturday. An additional strike on the Dezful airfield in southwestern Iran, destroyed two Iranian army F-5 fighter jets. 

24 HR RECAP:

🎯2 F-5 fighter jets belonging to the Iranian Armed Forces at the Dezful Airport in Iran struck

❌8 launchers neutralized, including six that were ready for immediate launch toward Israel

✈️20+ IAF fighter jets struck dozens of military targets in Iran… pic.twitter.com/uRqFxiFEUi

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 22, 2025

In recent days, the IDF has focused more attention on Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal, attacking launchers, stockpiles, and manufacturing sites. 

Iran has launched multiple salvos of ballistic missiles and drones at Israel, following the start of the Israeli operation.

Over the past week, the Iranian regime has been relentless in its mission to destroy the State of Israel.

Here are the numbers: pic.twitter.com/48TH7AQjLk

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 21, 2025

On Friday, the IDF announced that it had destroyed “three surface-to-surface missile launchers prepared to fire toward the State of Israel.” 

“The launchers were destroyed, thwarting a barrage that was intended to be fired tonight (Friday) toward Israel,” the military said. 

The military also said that it “identified a group of Iranian soldiers, including an IRGC base commander in western Iran responsible for 15 missile launchers, en route to carry out a launch,” eliminating them. 

On Friday, the Commanding Officer of the Israeli Air Force, Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, visited the Palmachim Airbase where he met with UAV technicians and operators and expressed his appreciation for their efforts across all fronts during the war. 

"We are deeply engaged in suppressing the surface-to-surface missile fire being directed at us,” Maj. Gen. Bar said. “We’re not at zero – but our efforts are stopping a great deal and surprised the Iranians. We’re working command-by-command, expanding, and we see its effects everywhere – when UAVs are flying over their heads, they (the enemy) cannot function.” 

On Saturday, the military said the IAF carried out “a series of strikes against missile storage and launching infrastructure sites in central Iran.” 

Later it reported, that “approximately 30 IAF fighter jets, with the IDF intelligence direction, struck dozens of military targets, with over 50 munitions, in the area of Ahvaz in southwestern Iran.” 

As part of the strikes, IAF fighter jets struck a site where missile launchers were stored, some of which it said had previously launched missiles at Israel. IAF fighter jets also struck radar detection system sites used for detection and aerial intelligence gathering, and military infrastructure belonging to the Iranian regime, it stated. 

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir visited the 136th Battalion of the Aerial Defense Array on Friday, meeting with the commander of the Aerial Defense Array, Brig. Gen. 'G', and additional senior commanders. 

Zamir praised the Aerial Defense Array’s vital efforts to protect Israeli civilians during Operation Rising Lion. 

“We are hunting their launchers,” Zamir told the commanders. “Yesterday, we intercepted three of four launchers just minutes before launch and neutralized them using our systems directly over their heads.”
“What you are doing here is remarkable,” he continued. “Without your work, the damage to Israel’s home front and our infrastructure would have been catastrophic.  I’m telling you – the entire world is watching your performance, our performance, and this array’s performance with extraordinary admiration.” 

“You are saving lives,” the Chief of Staff said. “You are defending the people of Israel. You are a vital shield for this nation.” 

Sunday morning, the IAF struck additional missile launchers ready to launch toward Israeli territory, along with soldiers from the Iranian Armed Forces who were operating them. 

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗔𝗙 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗻 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗜𝗿𝗮𝗻.

Additionally, this morning, the IAF struck missile launchers ready to launch toward Israeli territory, soldiers in the Iranian Armed…

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 22, 2025

Israeli forces have also been destroying drones launched by Iranian forces towards Israel, as well as striking drone sites in Iran. 

Since the beginning of Operation Rising Lion, the IAF and Israeli Navy have intercepted over 500 UAV's launched from Iran toward the State of Israel, the IDF said Sunday afternoon. 

The IAF continues to target dozens of UAV sites throughout Iranian territory, it said. Most of the drones launched by Iran have been destroyed before reaching Israeli territory.