Israel’s National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi reportedly told lawmakers that hundreds of Iran’s ballistic missiles may now be inaccessible and unusable, buried beneath rubble in damaged tunnel systems struck during Israeli air raids.

Iran’s Missile Arsenal Severely Disrupted

In a closed-door briefing with the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Sunday, Hanegbi said Iran began the conflict with approximately 2,500 ballistic missiles. Since then, more than 500 have been launched at Israel, and as many as 800 could be buried and effectively disabled due to recent Israeli strikes on subterranean storage networks, a source familiar with the session told CNN.

These figures suggest a substantial dent in Iran’s missile readiness, though independent verification is pending.

Uncertainty Over Nuclear Material Lingers

Western military sources cautioned that it remains too early to assess the full extent of damage from the U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, which targeted Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also remains in the dark regarding the fate of large quantities of enriched uranium—especially the 60% enriched uranium-235, which is just below weapons-grade. Inspectors last saw the stockpile before the outbreak of hostilities and have since been barred from access.

Strategic Implications

The dual blow—missile stockpiles possibly buried and nuclear materials unaccounted for—adds complexity to both Iranian military calculations and international diplomatic responses. Analysts warn that while Iran’s launch capacity may be temporarily impaired, its nuclear ambiguity could escalate tensions further.