US-Israel Campaign Cuts Iranian Missile Threats in Gulf Region

WASHINGTON (Azat TV) – A combined United States and Israeli military campaign is actively targeting and degrading Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities, leading to a notable reduction in Iranian missile attacks on Israel and the United Arab Emirates. Concurrently, several Gulf states are reporting high rates of ballistic missile and drone intercepts as they continue to face barrages of Iranian projectiles, highlighting ongoing regional tensions and the complex nature of air defense in the Middle East.

The offensive, which began in late February 2026, is strategically designed to destroy Iran’s missile launchers and infrastructure before the US and Israel deplete their own interceptor stockpiles, according to a March 3 report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and the Critical Threats Project (CTP). This approach aims to mitigate the risk of running out of defensive munitions by limiting Iran’s ability to launch missiles in the first place.

Campaign to Degrade Iran’s Ballistic Missile Capabilities

The combined US-Israeli force has conducted an extensive campaign to dismantle Iran’s ballistic missile program. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) assessed on March 3 that approximately 300 Iranian missile launchers have been destroyed since the conflict began. This effort appears to be yielding results, with Israeli public broadcasters and other open sources reporting a sharp decrease in Iranian missile attacks on Israel. Similarly, the number of missiles targeting the United Arab Emirates has fallen significantly, suggesting Iran is facing challenges in launching its short-range ballistic missiles.

Beyond launchers, the campaign has also targeted manufacturing sites and underground facilities crucial to Iran’s missile production. Strikes have hit an underground missile facility in Haji Abad, Hormozgan Province, and a missile base north of Kermanshah, with satellite imagery confirming extensive damage. Facilities in Tehran involved in developing components for surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, including chemical plants producing raw materials for solid-fuel missiles, have also been struck.

Ballistic Missile Intercepts Across the Gulf

While missile attacks on Israel and the UAE have decreased, other Gulf countries continue to be targeted by Iranian drones and ballistic missiles at a high rate, prompting significant defensive actions. According to their respective defense ministries, these nations have reported substantial interception figures:

• The Emirati Defense Ministry stated that it detected 186 Iranian ballistic missiles, intercepting 172 of them, with 13 falling into the sea and one landing in UAE territory. It also intercepted 755 out of 812 detected Iranian drones.
• Qatar’s Defense Ministry reported detecting 101 ballistic missiles and intercepting 98, with 3 impacting Qatari soil. It also intercepted 24 of 39 detected drones.
• The Bahraini Defense Ministry confirmed intercepting 73 Iranian missiles and 91 drones, though it did not specify the number of impacts.
• The Kuwaiti Defense Ministry detected and intercepted 178 Iranian ballistic missiles and 384 Iranian drones.

These figures indicate that Iran has launched a greater number of drones at Arab Gulf states than at Israel, likely due to their closer proximity. The Israeli Air Force (IAF) separately announced that it has successfully intercepted over 100 Iranian drones launched at Israel since the conflict began.

Strategic Strikes on Iran’s Decision-Making and Nuclear Program

The US-Israeli campaign has also extended to key decision-making institutions within Iran. On March 3, the IDF struck the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), the Presidential Office, and the Assembly of Experts building in Tehran. The Assembly of Experts, an 88-member clerical body, is constitutionally responsible for appointing and supervising the Supreme Leader. Disrupting its ability to select the next Supreme Leader could undermine the regime’s legitimacy, which is founded on the principle of Velayat-e Faqih, where a jurist controls Iran.

Strikes have also targeted sites associated with Iran’s nuclear program, including facilities linked to weaponization research. The covert “Minzadehei” compound in Tehran Province, where scientists reportedly sought to develop a key component for nuclear weapons, was hit. Satellite imagery confirmed damage to entrance buildings at the Natanz Nuclear Facility’s underground Fuel Enrichment Plant, though the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated no radiological consequences occurred.

Escalation and Internal Security Measures

In response to the combined force’s strikes targeting senior officials and central decision-making institutions, Iranian leaders have devolved powers to lower-level officials. President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on March 3 that central government authorities have been delegated to provincial governors to enable faster, localized decision-making, ensuring continued state functions despite disruptions to central leadership.

Meanwhile, Iran has continued drone and ballistic missile attacks targeting US forces and sites in Gulf countries. An Iranian drone struck the US Consulate in Dubai, causing a fire, and two US embassies in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait were closed following similar drone strikes. Internally, the Iranian regime is intensifying security measures, including setting up checkpoints and enforcing a nationwide internet blackout to prevent information about the war from leaving the country, according to anti-regime media and OSINT accounts.

The ongoing US-Israeli campaign demonstrates a strategic pivot from purely defensive interceptor reliance to an offensive posture aimed at neutralizing the source of missile threats. While this strategy appears to be reducing direct attacks on Israel and the UAE, the continued high volume of intercepts by other Gulf states underscores the persistent and diversified nature of Iran’s regional military capabilities and the complex challenges of layered air defense in a volatile environment.