Exclusive: U.S. can only confirm about third of Iran's missile arsenal destroyed, sources say - Reuters

Reuters
March 27, 2026
3 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

U.S. intelligence can only confirm destruction of roughly one-third of Iran's missile arsenal, raising questions about remaining threats to regional allies.

AI Summary

U.S. intelligence officials can confirm the destruction of only approximately one-third of Iran's missile arsenal, according to sources cited in an exclusive Reuters report. This assessment suggests that the majority of Iran's ballistic missile stockpile remains intact despite recent military strikes. The finding raises questions about the effectiveness of air operations against Iranian military infrastructure and the extent of remaining threats to U.S. allies in the region. Verification challenges in assessing damage to dispersed and concealed weapons systems complicate efforts to measure the true scale of losses. The incomplete confirmation underscores ongoing uncertainty about Iran's actual military capabilities.

Source Coverage Map

11 of 43 tracked sources covered this story

Overlooked Story
26% coverage
Did Not Cover (32)
ICIJ97AP World News96AP News96AP US News96AP Top News96+27 more

Following this story?

Get notified when new coverage appears

Should this be getting more attention?

You Might Have Missed

Related stories from different sources and perspectives

Exclusive: Patriot missile involved in Bahrain blast likely US-operated, analysis finds - Reuters
National Security

Exclusive: Patriot missile involved in Bahrain blast likely US-operated, analysis finds - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMixAFBVV95cUxNZFhvU2lnRDFSOFdDYloyOUtQT2ZWd1NRaXA5T216cUhJUV9DdTBGLWF1RHZlWmEyVENkbDk3blgtYllyQTlhVWNIdmsyUnNYMFdsaEhHTXIwbk82bmFDVE9KOUY5VnY3NHh5RmU2cmNLbGhqODJMbG95eDVGQzVlNmJfVWpvaWJZMmxERlo0REdiYmU5NnlaNjJYakcyYnNrZlFaWHV1WXBhdFE2WDZJTnZqQ2Zzd2RQQ1dXRDllbGpGNGVT?oc=5" target="_blank">Exclusive: Patriot missile involved in Bahrain blast likely US-operated, analysis finds</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

ReutersMar 22
AP exclusive: As the US shifts missiles towards Iran, officials raise concerns of gaps in European air defenses - AP News
National Security

AP exclusive: As the US shifts missiles towards Iran, officials raise concerns of gaps in European air defenses - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqwFBVV95cUxOcHhQUkYwLV9tSlJzOUJNZ1Vvc2NvRE5lN2ZRWHhFVkxMMzg4VnNUVC1wUVg5eFdtc0Z3bmFxY0FtUVk4R3NCVEhLZjdnUkFJcGRhZWR6aF94X1gzYVhzYW5LZ0k3ZjlHbGZVYURoMEdIbVQ3Zm9oa0NiUXRuTVdJM2xxUVR6WDZRRnVfRWEtX0Y4TDNBUmNoY0o1TmVXb1l6bkdaRzRyelFZLVE?oc=5" target="_blank">AP exclusive: As the US shifts missiles towards Iran, officials raise concerns of gaps in European air defenses</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsMar 20
Exclusive: China considers easing bank shareholding limits to boost capital, sources say - Reuters
Finance

Exclusive: China considers easing bank shareholding limits to boost capital, sources say - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi4wFBVV95cUxQZHlCQThFXzhIWVNTVHZyblVHNmU1YXB6M0lleGk1VDZrX1I5Z0llZkFNMjdsYzRoQUctNlF5SDdjS1RfNHdEWTJwVHVsNE43REpOT1VBMEYxZlFVbDZla0hPcl9wUnlsRmJhUm43VlZDcTBpY0M1RklKMTM5c1BqVzRqUFJZZjJOYUhDcWlTNERJTWdDQi1KOW9Ua1B1N1VGMGU1Ung5NjFoUVZkbUt2eTJDbXMyRTd3YU1qQ1RtMzVXdW9vRVZScWRnMEZ0YkZVLUJxNUk2akZzdjRmSzJhTks0NA?oc=5" target="_blank">Exclusive: China considers easing bank shareholding limits to boost capital, sources say</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

ReutersMar 26
America's arsenal of tomorrow: Divergent 3D-prints cruise missiles
AI & Warfare

America's arsenal of tomorrow: Divergent 3D-prints cruise missiles

<p>TORRANCE, Calif. —<strong> </strong>A cruise-missile airframe is being 3D-printed before my eyes. The <a href="https://www.axios.com/technology/automation-and-ai" target="_blank">AI-driven</a> system, the size of a shipping container, hums as it stacks layer on layer of aluminum and proprietary advanced metals.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>This white-floored factory at <a href="https://www.divergent3d.com/company/history" target="_blank">Divergent Technologies</a>, just outside L.A., is a window into the American arsenal of the future.</p><p><strong>Each of Divergent's printers,</strong> engineered and manufactured in the U.S., can produce hundreds of these missile airframes each year. They're part of a new generation of "low-cost" missiles that are roughly one-tenth the cost of a legacy system.</p><ul><li>The finished missiles, including parts from other contractors, run $200,000 to $500,000. Legacy standard missiles range from $2 million to $6 million each.</li></ul><...

AxiosMar 23
Iran targeted but did not hit Diego Garcia base with missiles, WSJ reports - Reuters
National Security

Iran targeted but did not hit Diego Garcia base with missiles, WSJ reports - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwAFBVV95cUxPZ2ZtY2hlWUJPa21DNUcxOU1vQ29oYjNiX2Fway1jU25QTEhMZFJ6TE55S2lQVktIX1g1TnJzN2NEX2FSNm9PQmtkT1Y0RUtRR0pfX01td2F1cHBMMnNEdERVNVN3LXY2bXRubUxhTnlKNndYZ0tJVE11c3FTRnd2dUwxZ1Ric2ZRTmhpb3F1anZSWXNaY2RzbWhmZjhUV3VEQkp4MzVhcUlFalAyazFqTVJVd0lkRXNCeG1OX2Fya2w?oc=5" target="_blank">Iran targeted but did not hit Diego Garcia base with missiles, WSJ reports</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

ReutersMar 21
Man accused in Gilgo Beach serial killings is expected to plead guilty, sources say - AP News
Civil Rights

Man accused in Gilgo Beach serial killings is expected to plead guilty, sources say - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqwFBVV95cUxNa2Jub3J1eFJGZmJRUFhkTVFUbFNGSnNsQXh1Q1pDR0FfOGdoUmJMbFdYTnFKZ0owSlNMWnpvNV9TRnlTNi1tMXktOW53ZzdDU3J3cXZDMTNiMUNuSl9OZmstSzFkZ3UwNmt6cTlBUUJHWURDWWNLYWEzS3Nya0dpQzFyNEJmMmgtRnB6MDZFN3ViUGZmUkFnSVppYWw2dGkwTFhhTExnQWZCZDA?oc=5" target="_blank">Man accused in Gilgo Beach serial killings is expected to plead guilty, sources say</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsMar 27
Read Next
US uses hundreds of Tomahawk missiles on Iran, alarming some at Pentagon, WaPo reports - Reuters
National Security

US uses hundreds of Tomahawk missiles on Iran, alarming some at Pentagon, WaPo reports - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi1AFBVV95cUxQaWlEeG1iQ3BYdWtGQXlGT09ieHV5cTJic05XT3pHaWpHOWtFVTBhd3I0d0o2WlhlaUZpb3RCMXVhdi1RNXRUdkpuMjU4LWJOd3NISWlnRy1aMFVCTFNGNHZ3UUljQ1RYYXdrcTl1MkJ1aDJKdE9NUHBJUWtZZVNHRmJhMmtMMV9nR1FCZ3FsN09OOE01NDBHdUVLMjNZXzNZSGNkdmo3dmVua2M5dHV4b2l2MlRDSFJFTTlMbEpOZkZ4QVl0a0FWd0VnMDRKeVBwWVd2SA?oc=5" target="_blank">US uses hundreds of Tomahawk missiles on Iran, alarming some at Pentagon, WaPo reports</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

Continue reading

Did this story change how you see things?

Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.

Share this story

Get the daily digest

Save for later

The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.

See our sources