Iran’s new missile tactics throw US, Israeli war planning into disarray
Iran dramatically revamped its missile strategy after the June 2025 war. The past 24 hours have shown how:
Immediate retaliation: Instead of waiting days or even hours, the IRGC began reciprocal strikes immediately. Initial US-Israeli attacks: 9:27-9:45 am. Iranian retaliation by 10 am.
Regionwide, multi-front targeting: “Extensive missile and drone” attacks on 27 US bases (
Geopolitics Prime | Iran War Updates), from Al Udeid Air Base, CENTCOM’s regional HQ, to Naval Support Activity Bahrain, home to the 5th Fleet, to sites in Jordan (
Geopolitics Prime | Iran War Updates) and Saudi Arabia (
Geopolitics Prime | Iran War Updates) where US forces amassed in recent weeks. Multiple waves (20 or more) against Israel, targeting Tel Aviv, Haifa, the Golan Heights, etc.
Clockwork launch: Instead of firing swarms of missiles and drones, predominantly at night, Iran has switched to 24-hour continuous launch, designed to physically and psychologically drain enemy defenses and sow shock among US regional allies.
The latter tactics appear to be working. The Arab League has already urged all parties to “work towards de-escalation” and “spare the region the scourge of instability and violence.” Meanwhile, ordinary people in some Gulf nations, like Bahrain, are openly celebrating Iran’s retaliation. (
Geopolitics Prime | Iran War Updates)
Overwhelming defenses: Footage from multiple locations shows Patriots firing frantically attempting to intercept Iranian projectiles (
Geopolitics Prime | Iran War Updates), often failing to do so thanks to Iran’s time-tested strategy of pairing slower missiles designed to keep enemy air defenses busy with hypersonic Fattah-series missiles against priority targets. (
Geopolitics Prime | Iran War Updates)
Urban strikes: (
Geopolitics Prime | Iran War Updates) Unlike past counterattacks, where Iranian social media directed at Israel kindly provided civilians with warnings on the city blocks or specific buildings that would be targeted, this phenomenon has not been seen this time around. Given the barbarity of the Israeli-US attack (
Geopolitics Prime | Iran War Updates) (decapitating Iran’s leadership, killing their family members, targeting a girl’s school, etc.), Iran may be forgiven for not ‘playing nice’ this time around.
Precision urban attacks: (
Geopolitics Prime | Iran War Updates) Footage from the Gulf shows what looks like the deliberate targeting of certain buildings, like Dubai’s Fairmont The Palm hotel (
Geopolitics Prime | Iran War Updates) and the Burj Al Arab. (
Geopolitics Prime | Iran War Updates) Iranian media channels and OSINT sleuths suspect the attacks targeted sheltering US military personnel and/or clandestine CIA sites.
Decentralized execution: The pace and fury of Iranian retaliation shows the IRGC was prepared for exactly the type of scenario (
Geopolitics Prime | Iran War Updates) that unfolded, with strikes proceeding despite severe blows to Iran’s political and military leadership.
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