The loss of these crews is more critical than hardware losses because the skills required to transport, fuel, and fire missiles take significant time to develop and cannot be quickly replaced. The admission suggests that U.S. and Israeli intelligence successfully located underground "missile cities" and mobile launchers, which likely contributed to the decline in the Islamic Republic's launch tempo as the conflict continued.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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Iran President Admits 1,500 Missile Crew Deaths in First Official Disclosure
War5 days ago
The Iranian leader revealed severe losses within the personnel who manage ballistic-missile launchers, confirming a penetration of the state's regional deterrence assets. Masoud Pezeshkian disclosed that 1,500 specialists were killed, noting that some had remained inside underground shelters for months without returning home during a speech intended to contrast their sacrifice with those he termed "freeloaders" in society.
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