FLASH
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The United States can safely say it has destroyed only about 1/3 of Iran's vast missile arsenal, Reuters reported, citing 5 sources familiar with the matter.
Four of the sources cited by the agency, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the status of about a third of these missiles was less clear, but the bombings likely damaged, destroyed or buried them in tunnels and underground shelters.
One of the sources said that intelligence assessments were similar regarding Iran's drone capabilities, noting that there was a degree of certainty that 1/3 of them had been destroyed.
This assessment, which had not been made public until now, shows that while the bulk of Iran's missiles have either been destroyed or are inaccessible, Tehran still has a significant stockpile of missiles and may be able to recover some buried or damaged missiles once hostilities cease.
This information contradicts President Donald Trump's public statements on Thursday, according to which Iran had "very few missiles," Reuters notes.
The US president also appeared to recognize the threat that remaining Iranian missiles and drones pose to any future US operation aimed at protecting the Strait of Hormuz, which is strategically important to the global economy.
"The problem with the Strait is this: let's say we're doing a great job. We say we've destroyed 99% (of their missiles). 1% is unacceptable, because 1% is a missile hitting a billion-dollar ship," Trump said in a televised cabinet meeting on Thursday.
The Pentagon and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Democratic Representative Seth Moulton, a U.S. Navy veteran who served four tours in Iraq, declined to comment on Reuters' findings but disputed Trump's claims about the impact of the war on Iran's arsenal.
"If Iran is smart, it has preserved some of its capability - it's not using everything it has. And it's waiting for the right moment," Moulton said.
The Trump administration has said its goal is to weaken Iran's military by destroying its navy, neutralizing its missile and drone capabilities, and ensuring that the Islamic Republic never acquires nuclear weapons.
The US military's Central Command (CENTCOM) said its operation, officially known as "Epic Fury", is progressing on schedule or even faster.
US airstrikes have hit more than 10,000 Iranian military targets since Wednesday and, according to Central Command, have sunk 92% of the Iranian navy's major ships.
The US military has released images showing attacks on Iranian weapons factories and has stressed that it is not only targeting missile and drone stockpiles, but also the industry that produces them.
However, CENTCOM declined to state exactly how much of Iran's missile or drone capacity has been destroyed.
One source said part of the problem is determining how many Iranian missiles were stored in underground bunkers before the war began. The United States has not made public its estimate of the size of Iran's missile stockpile before the war.
Estimates range from 2,500, according to the Israeli military, to around 6,000, according to some analysts.
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