Iran's Missile Attack On Iraq Shows How Accurate They Have Become

U.S. soldiers are seen at the site where an Iranian missile hit at Ain al-Asad air base in Anbar province, Iraq January 13, 2020. At the sprawling base in Iraq's western Anbar desert, U.S. Air Force and Army teams cleared piles of metal and concrete debris from the airfield and around bunkers using bulldozers and pickup trucks after Iran's first direct missile attack against U.S. forces on January 8. REUTERS/John Davison

Stratfor: How Iran's Missile Attack on American Bases Showcases Its Weapons' Accuracy

The attacks were a warning.

The images paint a picture of precision: The first satellite imagery of the aftermath of the Iranian strike on Ayn al-Asad Air Base in Iraq highlights Iran's improved ability to accurately strike distant targets with its extensive missile arsenal. The pictures, released by imaging company Planet Labs on Jan. 8, show that Iran can chalk up its strike as a success even without inflicting U.S. casualties. What's more, they also show how Iran sought to skirt a delicate line in exacting public retribution while also avoiding an escalation that would lead to outright war.

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Update: Iran’s attack on Iraq shows how precise missiles have become (The Economist)

WNU Editor: The Iranians could have easily fired more missiles than what they used on January 8.

A Look At The Missiles That Iran Fired Into Iraq

Defense One: What We Know About the Missiles Iran Fired Into Iraq

To begin with, they’re getting more accurate.

Iran has improved the accuracy and maneuverability of its missiles, like the ones fired Tuesday at military installations in Iraq housing U.S. and coalition troops, in part with foreign help.

New guidance systems have increased the lethality of Iran’s missiles, including the short-range Fateh that appears to have been used in the attacks. But many unknowns remain.

“We don’t have a real good, high-fidelity count of the number of missiles that Iran has,” said Michael Elleman, director of the Nonproliferation and Nuclear Policy Programme at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Ellerman estimates that Iran has between 200 and 300 Scud missiles and about 100 Shahab-3 medium-range ballistic missiles.

“Once you get beyond 100, it probably doesn’t matter because they have a limited number of launchers and launch crews,” he said.

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WNU Editor: The "experts" are not impressed .... PHOTOS: First images of 'dud' Iranian missile in Erbil reveal impotent attack (Washington Examiner).

Iran Begins Mass Production of Jask Cruise Missiles

RT: ‘A surprise for the enemy’: Iran’s new submarine-launched cruise missile enters mass production

Iran has launched mass production of its new submarine-launched Jask cruise missile, the country’s Navy chief has said, adding that work on upgraded versions of the weapon is already in progress.

Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi was speaking in Tehran on Saturday at an event showcasing new weaponry and other military projects that his force has been involved with. Announcing the launch of the Jask cruise missile’s mass production, Khanzadi said the munition will be used by all the subs of Iran’s Navy.

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More News On Iran's Jask Cruise Missile

Iranian navy announces mass production of 'Jask' cruise missile -- CGTN
Iran Navy Starts Mass Production of ‘Jask’ Cruise Missile, Unveils other Military Projects -- Al Manar
'Surprise for the Enemy': Iran Launches Mass Production of Jask Cruise Missiles -- Sputnik

Report: U.S. Military Deployment To The Middle East Is In Response To Iran Moving Ballistic Missiles By Boat

CNN: Iran moving ballistic missiles by boat, US officials say

Intelligence showing that Iran is likely moving short-range ballistic missiles aboard boats in the Persian Gulf was one of the critical reasons the US decided to move an aircraft carrier strike group and B-52 bombers into the region, according to several US officials with direct knowledge of the situation.

The concerns over the movement of the missiles was one of multiple threads of intelligence from various sources that led the US to believe Iran had a capability and intention to launch strikes against US targets.

On Tuesday US Central Command spokesperson Capt. Bill Urban said they had seen "indications that Iranian and Iranian proxy forces were making preparations to possibly attack US forces in the region."

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Update #1: US official: Intel indicates Iran moved missiles by boat (AP)
Update #2: US deployment a response to Iran moving ballistic missiles by boat: report (The Hill)

WNU Editor: An Iranian missile strike on U.S. and/or allied assets in the Middle East would mean war. Are the Iranians that foolish? My gut says no.

Growing Fears That Iranian Shoulder-Fired Surface-To-Air Missiles May Be Supplied To Terror Groups

Photo: Iranian Misagh shoulder-fired missile system

Iran Reveals New Details of Shoulder-Fired Missiles -- Washington Free Beacon

Anti-terror officials concerned missiles could be given to Iran-supported terror orgs

Iran this month unveiled details on two shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles that are a major concern among U.S. and allied counterterrorism officials due to Tehran’s support for global terrorist groups.

Iran on Dec. 8 published a report outlining the specifications for what it calls the Misagh-1 and Misagh-2 shoulder-fired missile system.

The report in the state-run Islamist Tasnim news agency stated the missiles are superior to the U.S. Stinger anti-aircraft missile and Sweden’s RBS-70 missile system.

According to the news agency, both variants of the missile are 1.5 meters long and can hit targets at a maximum altitude of 4,000 meters.

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My Comment: I suspect that it will be only a matter of time before groups like Hezbollah are boasting that they have such missiles (if not already) in their arsenals.

Iran 'Improving Its Missiles Almost Daily'

The current and projected range of Iran's missiles. Image from Russia Blog

From The Jerusalem Post:

Iran's missile technology is advancing on almost a daily basis, said Col. Guy Aviram of the Defense Ministry's MAFAT research and development directorate on Sunday.

Last week, Iran test-fired a solid fuel version of the Ashura ballistic missile, believed to have a range of 2,000 kilometers. In contrast to the Shihab missile, which uses liquid fuel, the Ashura can be stored in underground missile silos and does not need to be fueled, like the Shihab, before launch. The use of solid fuel also grants the missile greater range.

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My Comment: It appears that the groundwork is now being laid to justify an Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.

German Businessman Admits Selling Rocket MaterialTto Iran

From Deutsche Welle:

A German businessman on trial for selling graphite to Iran to make rocket nozzles has admitted the offense.

At the opening of his trial on April 8, the 63-year-old businessman on trial for selling Iran 16 tons of graphite to make rocket nozzles initially rejected all 12 counts of the indictment.

However, in a statement read out by his lawyers, he has now admitted to the offense.

The man is accused of breaking laws preventing illicit arms exports by declaring the graphite exported from 2005 to 2007 to be low-grade. This would have avoided the need to apply for a government clearance which would almost certainly have been refused.

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My Comment: I suspect that this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Iran Test-Fires Missiles In Persian Gulf

TV grab taken from Al-Alam shows preparations by Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards to fire nine missiles. The tests come at a time of growing tensions over the Iranian nuclear programme, which the West fears could be aimed at making an atomic bomb. (AFP/AL-ALAM/null)

From Yahoo News:

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran test-fired nine long- and medium-range missiles Wednesday during war games that officials said aimed to show the country can retaliate against any U.S. and Israeli attack, state television reported.

Gen. Hossein Salami, the air force commander of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, said the exercise would "demonstrate our resolve and might against enemies who in recent weeks have threatened Iran with harsh language," the TV report said.

Wednesday's war games were being conducted at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which about 40 percent of the world's oil passes. Iran has threatened to shut down traffic in the strait if attacked.

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Iran test fires missiles in riposte to U.S., Israel -- CNN
Iran Test-Fires Missiles in Persian Gulf -- ABC News
Iran Test-Fires Long, Short-Range Missiles -- CBS News
Iran sends missile test warning -- BBC
Iran Test-Fires Missiles Capable of Hitting Israeli, U.S. Bases -- FOX News
Iran test-fires long- and medium-range missiles -- MSNBC
Iran test-fires long-range missile -- Telegraph
Iran missile test ratchets up regional tensions -- Times Online

My Comment: Much of this is done for public consumption in Iran. Inflation and gas shortages is causing a great amount of discontent in all regions of the country. As the situation gets worse, expect more rhetoric to come from Iran.