Alexandar Sullivan:
Iran has rapidly restored access to many of its underground missile sites, raising new questions about the long-term effectiveness of U.S. and Israeli bombing campaigns aimed at limiting Tehran’s firepower.
Satellite images reviewed by CNN showed that Iran has cleared 50 of 69 tunnel entrances struck at 18 underground missile facilities. The entrances had been blocked by airstrikes that destroyed roads and buried access points, but Iranian crews used bulldozers, dump trucks and other basic equipment to reopen them.
Experts said the repairs show that Iran’s missile capability cannot be eliminated simply by targeting tunnel entrances. Sam Lair, a research associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, said Iran could still launch missiles if it has crews, launchers and stockpiles available.
The repairs accelerated after a ceasefire more than seven weeks ago. Analysts believe Iran may still have around 1,000 missiles stored deep underground, where they are difficult to destroy from the surface.
The findings come as Iran and the United States continue working through details of a tentative agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while concerns remain over what could happen if fighting resumes.
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