Missiles, drones and defiance: Iran prepares for prolonged conflict with US-Israel alliance

2026-03-06 - 18:07

Iran appears determined to continue its confrontation with the United States and Israel despite mounting military pressure, relying heavily on its missile and drone capabilities while signaling no intention of surrendering. Senior Iranian officials say the country has prepared for a prolonged conflict. Ali Larijani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, said Iran had anticipated a long war and was ready to defend itself regardless of the cost. The statement comes as the United States and Israel continue a coordinated military campaign against Iran that began on February 28. The strikes have targeted Iranian military facilities, government infrastructure and senior officials in an effort to weaken Tehran’s command structure. Despite the killing of several high-ranking officials, the Iranian leadership remains intact and has continued to respond with missile and drone attacks across the region, according to dw.com. According to Brad Cooper, commander of United States Central Command, Iran had launched more than 500 ballistic missiles and over 2,000 drones by March 4, striking targets in Israel and across the Gulf, including locations hosting US military bases. Authorities in the United Arab Emirates said hundreds of rockets and drones had targeted their territory in recent days. At the start of the conflict, Israeli military estimates suggested Iran possessed about 2,500 ballistic missiles. However, analysts believe the number has declined due to ongoing launches and airstrikes targeting missile depots and storage facilities. Satellite imagery circulating online indicates that missile bases in cities such as Kermanshah, Karaj, Khorramabad and Tabriz may have been damaged in recent attacks, with tunnel entrances to underground storage sites reportedly destroyed. Despite these setbacks, experts believe Iran retains significant offensive capacity. Tehran is also believed to maintain a strong drone production capability, reportedly capable of producing thousands of drones per month, including the Shahed-series drones that have been widely used in recent strikes. These relatively inexpensive drones, which can cost only a few thousand dollars each, present a major challenge for air defense systems. By contrast, intercepting them with systems such as the MIM-104 Patriot missile can cost several million dollars per launch. Analysts say some Iranian attacks have targeted communications and radar infrastructure linked to US bases across the Middle East, suggesting an attempt to disrupt military coordination and operational capabilities. Experts believe Iran’s broader strategy is to endure the conflict and prolong the fighting. Fawaz Gerges, a professor of international relations at the London School of Economics, said Iran’s leadership appears focused on resilience — absorbing military blows while continuing to respond. However, the heaviest toll is being borne by civilians. Airstrikes and missile attacks in densely populated areas have led to significant casualties and destruction. Iranian media reported that a primary school in the southern city of Minab was struck early in the conflict, killing students and teachers. The United Nations described the incident as “absolutely shocking” and called for an investigation. Israel has denied responsibility for the attack, while the United States said it would review the circumstances surrounding the incident. As the war continues, the risk of further escalation across the region remains high, with military strikes, missile exchanges and growing civilian casualties raising international concern about the widening conflict.