Israel's massive airstrikes on Iran’s missile production capabilities and air defense systems in October drastically reduced the country's ability to manufacture fuel for ballistic missiles, an unnamed Israeli military source told The Washington Post,

Before the strikes, Iran was reportedly producing enough solid fuel for two new ballistic missiles daily. Post-attack estimates suggest that production has dropped to one missile per week, a shortfall likely to persist for a year.

The operation, involving 120 Israeli jets, was meticulously calculated to dismantle Iran’s defensive infrastructure and diminish its capacity for retaliation. The strikes targeted air defense radars, antiaircraft batteries, and key factories in Tehran producing missile fuel. Gallant added that the operation also reportedly struck an active nuclear weapons research facility.

"There is no strategic defense around Tehran," former Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant told The Washington Post. 

The October assault came in retaliation for Iran’s October 1 barrage of approximately 200 ballistic missiles on Israel, but the planning for the Israeli response began months earlier. Gallant emphasized that the strikes were designed to achieve a dual purpose: weakening Iran’s offensive capabilities and bolstering Israel’s strategic advantage.

“The aim was to ensure that Iran is weaker and Israel is stronger,” Gallant explained. He noted that the attack created "a window to act against Iran" before it could manufacture a nuclear weapon.

“We hit them precisely, but it wasn’t enough to deter them,” Gallant said, referring to a prior Israeli operation in April targeting a radar system for an air defense battery in Iran’s central city of Isfahan. That earlier strike was in response to Tehran’s April 13 drone-and-missile attack on Israel.

The recent airstrike not only crippled Iran’s missile production but also stripped Tehran of significant defensive capabilities. By targeting air defense infrastructure, Israel ensured that future attacks on Iran would face reduced resistance. The operation signals a broader strategic shift, where Israel aims to preemptively neutralize potential threats before they escalate.

The Israeli military source revealed that the calculated damage to Iran’s missile production was designed to have enduring effects.

"It was assumed the shortfall would continue for a year," the source said, underscoring the deliberate intent to weaken Iran’s military industry over an extended period.