Iran is working to recover missile launchers and restore its "missile cities" system, according to a satellite image published by CNN. The image shows engineering vehicles removing barriers and debris from a tunnel shaft that was hit in Israeli Air Force strikes during Operation Roaring Lion.
A previous CNN investigation found that the US and Israel struck entrances to the bases in order to prevent missile launchers from leaving to fire or returning to reload. US intelligence assessed that about half of Iran's missile launchers remained intact after a month of fighting, according to sources who spoke with CNN. Many of those launchers may now be buried underground because of the strikes on tunnel entrances.
Efforts to restore access to the bases, commonly known as missile cities, were expected, according to Sam Lair, a research associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies.
"A ceasefire requires you to accept the fact that your adversary is going to rebuild some of the military capability that you just invested time, effort and money in destroying," the expert told the network.
Lair added that this is part of Iran's planning for how the bases operate. "It fits the broader concept of missile city operations, which means you absorb the first attack, dig yourself out and then launch again."
