All articles tagged with #missiles
Italy replaced Leonardo's CEO Roberto Cingolani with Lorenzo Mariani, a veteran of MBDA, signaling a shift toward traditional hard‑defense and missiles as global conflicts intensify. Cingolani had overseen share price gains and cyber/digital initiatives; the government gave no public explanation for the move, and Leonardo's shares slid on the news.
Missiles fired from Lebanon toward central Israel triggered sirens in Tel Aviv and nearby areas; at least two launches occurred, with one missile intercepted and another landing in an open area, and no injuries were reported. The attack followed a day of escalation and rocket fire on northern Israel. The IDF said it is prepared to respond and warned that additional areas may come under fire. Prime Minister Netanyahu urged disarmament talks with Lebanon, while the US clarified that Lebanon is not part of the Iran-focused ceasefire.
A January 2020 Venezuelan Defense Ministry memo obtained by POLITICO shows Caracas planned to purchase a ballistic missile system from Iran for more than $400 million, detailing funds routed through state-owned companies and missiles to be operated from Venezuelan naval platforms; the plan progressed further than previously known but was blocked under U.S. pressure and ultimately did not result in weapons delivery, with analysts debating how extensive the Iran–Venezuela ties actually were.
North Korea announced that its latest weapons tests included missiles equipped with cluster-bomb warheads, signaling ongoing arms development and prompting regional security concerns.
North Korea said its three-day weapons tests this week included ballistic missiles armed with cluster-munition warheads, along with anti-aircraft and electromagnetic weapons. South Korea reported missiles launched from the eastern coast traveled about 240–700 km, and KCNA described the cluster-warhead launches on Hwasong-11 missiles as capable of destroying large areas. Seoul did not immediately comment. Pyongyang has suspended much diplomacy with Seoul and Washington while pursuing a broader nuclear-capable arsenal, as China’s Wang Yi prepares for a visit to the North.
With a two-week pause in place, Trump’s five stated aims—destroy Iran’s missiles, annihilate its navy, stop its regional proxies, prevent a nuclear weapon, and spark a domestic uprising—are only partially met: U.S. and Israeli strikes have damaged many missile facilities, but Iran still fields missiles and drones and retains mobile launchers; its navy controls the Strait of Hormuz and militias remain active; no sustained uprising has occurred and there’s no clear sign of a dismantled nuclear program. Negotiations will press for concessions during this fragile cease-fire, which could fray as region-wide attacks continue.
Japan has deployed its first long-range missiles, showcasing the Type-12 land-to-ship launcher at Camp Kengun in Kumamoto Prefecture, marking a shift in its defense posture amid regional security tensions.
ISW-CTP’s daily update portrays a widening US/Israeli campaign against Iran, with strikes damaging four key missile facilities (Khojir, Shahroud, Parchin, Hakimiyeh) and over 20 missile bases, while Iran retaliates against Israel and conducts strikes on Gulf targets. Inside Iran, economic strain and simmering tensions between President Pezeshkian and the IRGC are prompting recruitment efforts and policy friction. Russia provides satellite support, and Iran-backed militias, including Hezbollah and Iraqi groups, escalate cross-border attacks. The US is withdrawing from Syria’s Qasrak Base, and Houthis have briefly appeared in the conflict, signaling expanding regional spillovers and mounting costs for Iran.
North Korea conducted a ground test of an upgraded solid-fuel engine for missiles that Pyongyang says could target the U.S. mainland, with Kim Jong Un overseeing the test. KCNA said the engine’s thrust reached 2,500 kilonewtons, up from about 1,970 kN in a prior test. Analysts say the claim may be exaggerated and some data was not disclosed, and no launch has proven an operational ICBM, but the test highlights a drive to field faster, more mobile nuclear-capable missiles as part of a five-year arms buildup.
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un oversaw a ground test of an upgraded solid-fuel engine for missiles that could reach the U.S. mainland, part of a five-year effort to bolster the country’s strategic arsenal. Experts note solid-fuel tech offers mobility and concealability, though some skepticism remains about the test’s stated capabilities and timing, and there’s speculation about potential Russian cooperation; no location or duration details were disclosed.
One month after the US–Israel strikes began in Iran, Washington touts major tactical wins such as degraded missile capability and strikes on Iran’s defence industry, navy, and air force, while Tehran continues to launch missiles and drones and keep regional pressure on Gulf and Israeli targets. Although the White House says progress has exceeded expectations, several strategic objectives—fully destroying Iran’s nuclear capability, eliminating its military-industrial base, seizing enriched uranium, achieving regime change, and guaranteeing open shipping through the Strait of Hormuz—remain unfulfilled or uncertain, raising questions about the overall success of the operation and potential political or regional repercussions if the war drags on.
U.S. intelligence says it can confirm roughly one‑third of Iran’s missile arsenal has been destroyed, with about a third more likely damaged or buried in tunnels; the rest is uncertain, and several analysts warn Iran may still retain significant capabilities and stocks. Trump has publicly claimed Iran has few rockets left, a view at odds with the intelligence. Estimates of Iran’s pre‑war missile stockpile range from about 2,500 to 6,000.
U.S. intelligence estimates about one-third of Iran’s missile arsenal has been destroyed, with roughly another third likely damaged or buried in underground tunnels; Iran reportedly still holds a sizable stockpile and could recover some missiles, highlighting the challenge of assessing damage amid ongoing strikes and contrasting with Trump’s public claim that Iran has few rockets left.
Iran launched a missile barrage targeting southern and central Israel, killing one man and injuring several others; Israel intercepted missiles over southern areas and Damascus, while police and rescue teams investigate shrapnel incidents and assess multiple impact sites as a fourth alert was issued.
Iran-backed Houthis say they launched their first missile at Israel, signaling a sharp widening of the regional war with reports of strikes in Tel Aviv and civilian casualties, while Pakistan positions itself as a mediator by offering to help spur talks between Washington and Tehran amid escalating tensions and humanitarian impact.