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US has destroyed only a third of Iran’s missiles, intelligence suggests | Iran

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The US has only destroyed about a third of Iran’s missile and drone arsenal after a month of its war against Iran which aimed to degrade the country’s ballistic missile capabilities, according to a report by Reuters.

While about a third are destroyed, another third was likely damaged or buried under underground tunnels and bunkers. A similar assessment was made concerning Iran’s drone arsenal.

The report, based on five people familiar with US intelligence, suggests that while most of Iran’s missiles are immediately inaccessible, the country still has a sizeable missile stockpile left.

The reporting contradicted US president Donald Trump’s statement on Thursday that Iran had “very few rockets left” and statements from other US officials that the war has eliminated Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities.

Iranian officials see its ballistic missile programme as a key deterrent, particularly given the vast militarily superiority of the US and Israel, which is within reach of its arsenal and views it as a direct threat.

Iran has used ballistic missiles and drones to devastating effect over the last month, continuing to pound Israel with missile barrages, as well as targeting key energy and public infrastructure in the Gulf, inflicting huge damage on the global economy.

The US and Israel have said degrading Iran’s ballistic missile capacity is one of the chief aims of the war. In recent days, the US has deployed thousands of more troops to the Middle East as the administration reportedly mulls a ground operation in Kharg island with the aim of re-opening the paralysed strait of Hormuz.

Trump said on Thursday: “The problem with the strait is this: Let’s say we do a great job. We say we got 99% [of their missiles]. 1% is unacceptable, because 1% is a missile going into the hull of a ship that cost a billion dollars.”

Israel has made ballistic missile caches and launchers one of the primary targets of its aerial campaign in Iran. It says it has “neutralised” 335 missile launchers, comprising 70% of Iran’s launchers. Iran has distributed its launchers across the country in an effort to evade Israeli detection and airstrikes.

The number of Iranian missiles launched has declined as Israel and the US continue to find and destroy launchers, but missiles have still managed to impact in Israel and the Gulf as interceptors run out. Israel, the US and Gulf states have spent billions and expended critical interceptor stocks to block Iranian missile barrages.

A US official, speaking anonymously, suggested that it would be impossible to assess Iran’s missile stockpile as much of it was stored underground. “I don’t know if we’ll ever have an accurate number,” they said.

Iran has continued to fire ballistic missiles, firing 15 missiles and 11 drones at the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, according to the UAE defence ministry.

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said that the vast tunnel network created an extra challenge in destroying Iran’s missile stockpile, but said the US military would continue regardless.

“But we are hunting them down methodically, ruthlessly and overwhelmingly, like no other military in the world can do, and the results speak for themselves,” Hegseth said earlier this month.



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EU ministers arrive in Ukraine to mark Bucha massacre anniversary – Europe live | Ukraine

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Morning opening: Focus on Ukraine

Jakub Krupa

Jakub Krupa

Several EU ministers are expected in Bucha, Ukraine, today to mark the fourth anniversary of the town’s liberation and the massacre that became one of the early symbols of the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

People attend a ceremony at a memorial for killed civilians to mark the fourth anniversary of the liberation of Bucha, Ukraine.
People attend a ceremony at a memorial for killed civilians to mark the fourth anniversary of the liberation of Bucha, Ukraine. Photograph: Evgeniy Maloletka/AP

The anniversary marks a rare moment in recent weeks when the EU’s attention focuses back on Ukraine amid growing concerns about fallout from the Iran war. The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, leads the delegation.

The ministers will discuss what needs to be done to ensure accountability for war crimes committed during the war through a special tribunal, which still needs more political backing and funding to come into existence.

Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, said in a post on social media:

“The scale of Russian atrocities in the course of its aggression is unseen on European soil since WWII. The crime of aggression is the root cause of them all. There must be accountability and there will be no amnesty for Russian criminals, including the highest political and military leadership of the Russian Federation.”

He drew a comparison with the Nuremberg trials against leaders of defeated Nazi Germany, saying the new tribunal was needed to “prevent such horrible crimes from repeating again in the future.”

But no progress is expected to be made on thorny issues of the EU’s €90bn loan to Hungary and the 20th package of sanctions against Russia, both of which continue to be blocked by Hungary.

Let’s see what the day brings.

Separately, EU energy ministers are holding a call later today to discuss the impact of the crisis in the Middle East on energy prices as some countries push with unilateral measures that they argue are needed to limit the impact on their economies.

I will also keep an eye on Denmark where the coalition talks continue after last week’s parliamentary election, which ended with a political deadlock.

It’s Tuesday, 31 March 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.

Good morning.

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Italy denies use of Sicily airbase to US aircraft carrying weapons for Iran

Angela Giuffrida

Angela Giuffrida

in Rome

Italy has denied use of an airbase in Sicily to US military craft carrying weapons for the war in the Middle East.

Civil associations, unions, peace activists and members of No MUOS movement gather in front of the US naval airbase to protest against US and Israel’s attacks on Iran earlier this month. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

A source at the Italian defence ministry confirmed a report in Corriere della Sera that “some US bombers” had been due to land at Sigonella – a key US navy installation and Nato base – before heading to the Middle East.

According to treaties signed in the late 1950s, the US navy can use the base for logistical and training purposes but not as a transit hub for aircraft used to transport weapons for war unless in an emergency situation, permission for which needs to be approved in parliament.

The source said the US had sought permission to land aircraft that do not fall within the treaty, but was denied because there was no time to seek authorisation in parliament. It is unclear when the US had planned to land the aircraft.

For days, politicians in Sicily from Italy’s leftwing opposition parties have been urging Giorgia Meloni’s far-right government to clarify the situation at Sigonella after activity at the base increased since the start of the war in Iran and asked it to block the US from using bases in Italy for involvement in the conflict. Italy hosts seven US navy bases.

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Delivery driver threatened at gunpoint in security alert

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A delivery driver was forced to drive a suspicious device to Lurgan police station after being threatened, police say.



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Middle East crisis live: Iran attacks tanker in Dubai; explosions in Tehran and Jerusalem amid wave of strikes | US-Israel war on Iran

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Interim summary

For those just joining our live coverage of the Middle East war, here’s a snapshot of the latest:

  • Iran attacked and set ablaze a fully loaded crude oil tanker off Dubai. Local authorities later said response teams contained the incident with no oil leakage and that no injuries had been reported

  • Donald Trump warned that the US would obliterate Iran’s energy plants and oil wells if it did not open the strait of Hormuz.

  • The Israeli military said four soldiers had been killed in combat in southern Lebanon, where its forces are clashing with Iran-backed Hezbollah.

  • Two giant Chinese container ships have sailed through the strait of Hormuz on their second attempt to leave the Gulf after turning back on Friday, ship-tracking data shows. The transit signals a diplomatic breakthrough between Beijing and Tehran as Iran widens its list of approved nations for transiting the vital route, Lloyd’s List reported.

  • Indonesia’s foreign minister called for an emergency UN security council meeting and a thorough investigation” into a “heinous attack” after three UN peacekeepers from Indonesia were killed in southern Lebanon.

  • Blasts were heard in Tehran and power cuts hit some areas of the capital, Iranian media reported on Tuesday. Israel earlier carried out missile strikes on what it called military infrastructure in Tehran and infrastructure used by Hezbollah in Beirut.

  • Japan and Indonesia agreed to step up coordination on energy security, Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi said on Tuesday.

  • Two Iranian missile launches targeted central Israel, Israeli media reported, with the emergency service saying it had not received reports of any injuries.

  • Turkey reported a ballistic missile launched from Iran had entered Turkish airspace before being shot down by Nato air and missile defences.

  • An earlier summary of key developments is here.

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The UAE’s defence ministry posted to X about half an hour ago saying that its air defences were intercepting Iranian missile and drone attacks – and said this activity explained the sounds audible across various parts of the country.

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