A recent Israeli airstrike on Iran reportedly targeted facilities involved in producing solid fuel for ballistic missiles, dealing a significant blow to Tehran’s military strength.
The ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran intensified last weekend as the Israeli Air Force launched a series of airstrikes targeting Iran’s missile production sites. These strikes reportedly delivered a severe setback to Iran’s ballistic missile program, particularly its development of long-range solid-fuel missiles, according to the Jerusalem Post on October 27.Experts suggest this could be a turning point, potentially stalling Iran’s missile advancements for years.
Reports indicate that Israel deployed over 100 fighter jets in a coordinated assault, hitting critical sites linked to advanced technology imports from China, vital for Iran’s missile production.One of the most notable impacts was the destruction of around 20 “mixers”—essential, high-cost equipment valued at approximately $2 million each—used to produce solid fuel for ballistic missiles, as reported by Elaph.
The recent airstrikes by Israel zeroed in on two major military complexes near Tehran: Parchin and Khojir. Researcher Decker Eveleth from the U.S.-based CNA revealed through satellite analysis that the strikes took out three solid fuel mixing facilities and a storage warehouse at Parchin, along with two key buildings at Khojir.“These specialized mixers are both costly and hard to replace due to strict export controls,” explained Eveleth. “Iran has invested heavily in importing these over the years, and replacing them will pose a major challenge.
“Eveleth further noted that this setback could hamper Iran’s missile production for at least two years, potentially reducing its capacity to quickly replenish its missile stockpile if tensions escalate with Israel.Additionally, former UN weapons inspector David Albright reported that the strikes targeted the Taleghan 2 building at Parchin, a facility with past links to Iran’s nuclear weapons development.The timeline for recovery varies, with some experts suggesting it will take at least a year for Iran to rebuild, though others with knowledge of Iran’s missile infrastructure believe a full recovery could take two years.
Reports indicate that Iran may have preemptively relocated critical equipment and materials from targeted sites to reduce potential losses. Despite this, the destruction of key production facilities is expected to severely hinder Iran’s missile capabilities in the near future and could lead to substantial economic fallout.”This situation could have major economic impacts on Iran, and with heightened awareness of these risks, it’s essential to approach future actions with caution,” said Hamid Hosseini, an expert in Iran’s oil sector and a member of the Iran-Iraq Chamber of Commerce.
The strikes weren’t limited to missile facilities alone. Israel also targeted four S-300 air defense systems positioned to guard Tehran’s energy and nuclear sites. Iran acknowledged the use of “light warheads” in the strikes, though a full assessment of the damage is still pending and could take several days.According to analysts, even a limited offensive allowed Israel to significantly disrupt Iran’s missile production capability, diminishing Tehran’s potential for future missile operations.
