Israel Plans Second Phase of War Targeting Iran’s Underground Missile Facilities

TEL AVIV -UNS : Israel’s military campaign against Iran is expected to enter a second phase focusing on strikes against ballistic missile facilities located deep underground, according to sources familiar with the operation.
The joint military offensive by Israel and the United States has now entered its first week after initial attacks reportedly killed senior Iranian leaders and triggered a wider regional conflict. The escalation has led to Iranian strikes in Israel, the Gulf region, and Iraq, while Israel has also conducted attacks in Lebanon.
Israeli military officials say hundreds of Iranian missile launchers positioned above ground have already been targeted during the initial phase of the campaign. These launchers were believed to have the capability to strike major Israeli cities.
According to the sources, the upcoming phase will focus on bunkers used to store ballistic missiles and related military equipment. The individuals spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
One source said Israel’s objective is to neutralize Iran’s capacity to carry out aerial attacks against Israeli territory by the end of the conflict, while also weakening the leadership of the Islamic Republic.
An Israeli military spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the reported plans.
Israeli officials have earlier claimed that Israeli and US forces gained control over significant portions of Iran’s airspace during the initial days of the operation.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Israeli military said its air force had struck an underground infrastructure site overnight that was allegedly used by Iranian authorities to store ballistic missiles, along with storage facilities for missiles intended to target aircraft.
However, a review of previous military statements suggests this is among the first public acknowledgments of attacks on underground missile facilities since the start of the joint US-Israeli operations.