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Monterey Today
By the People, for the People
Satellite Images Show Efforts to Destroy Iran's Ballistic Missiles
U.S. and Israel target underground facilities and aboveground missile sites in latest attacks on Iran
Published on Mar. 4, 2026
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Since the U.S. and Israel began attacking Iran on February 28, destroying Iran's ballistic missile capabilities has emerged as a top objective. A New York Times analysis of satellite imagery shows how these underground and aboveground missile sites have been targeted, with the U.S. using specialized 2,000-pound penetrator bombs to strike hardened underground facilities and also hitting some aboveground missile sites with extensive damage.
Why it matters
Iran has long relied on its ballistic missile program to project power outside its borders, and destroying this capability is a key goal of the current U.S. and Israeli military campaign. However, the underground and hardened nature of many of these missile sites makes them difficult to target and destroy without the use of specialized munitions and tactics.
The details
The U.S. has used B-2 stealth bombers and 2,000-pound penetrator bombs to attack hardened underground ballistic missile facilities in Iran. These specialized weapons are designed to punch through rock and reinforced concrete before detonating. Satellite imagery also shows damage to some aboveground missile facilities, with multiple buildings destroyed at sites near Kermanshah and Garmdareh. However, the Times has not been able to verify strikes on actual missile production sites, which could be a strategic move by the U.S. and Israel to target those later in the conflict.
- The U.S. and Israel began attacking Iran on February 28, 2026.
- On Sunday, March 3, 2026, U.S. Central Command said it had used B-2 stealth bombers to attack 'hardened ballistic missile facilities'.
- On Monday, March 4, 2026, Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, acknowledged the need for specialized 2,000-pound penetrator bombs to target the underground sites.
The players
U.S. Central Command
The U.S. military command that oversees operations in the Middle East region.
Gen. Dan Caine
The chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Sam Lair
A research associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies in Monterey, California.
What they’re saying
“It could happen at a later stage of the conflict once the missile bases have been suppressed.”
— Sam Lair, Research Associate (New York Times)
What’s next
As of Tuesday, March 4, 2026, U.S. Central Command has acknowledged attacking more than 1,700 targets inside Iran since the start of the campaign.
The takeaway
The U.S. and Israel's efforts to destroy Iran's ballistic missile capabilities have focused on both underground hardened facilities and aboveground missile sites, utilizing specialized penetrator bombs and stealth bombers. However, the sheer scale of Iran's missile program and the difficulty of locating and destroying underground sites make this a challenging objective that may require further escalation of the conflict.
