Meet 'Castle Breaker,' Iran's missile wreaking havoc in US war

Key Points:

• Iran has deployed a new generation of ballistic missiles, notably the highly mobile Kheibar Shekan ("Castle Breaker"), capable of evading U.S. air defenses and striking targets with high precision across the Middle East, including key U.S. bases in the Persian Gulf.
• The Kheibar Shekan missile’s maneuverable warhead can alter its trajectory during descent, making interception difficult and allowing it to cause significant damage to U.S. military infrastructure, as seen in multiple strikes on bases in Bahrain, Jordan, and other locations.
• Former U.S. military officials, including retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey, warn that Iranian missile and drone attacks have compromised U.S. access to at least 15 bases in the Persian Gulf, prompting a reassessment of the U.S. military footprint and defense posture in the region.
• Despite Pentagon assertions of largely successful missile defenses and operational readiness, independent analyses and expert interviews suggest that Iranian missile strikes have inflicted substantial damage on U.S. and allied facilities, challenging long-held assumptions about regional security.
• The ongoing conflict has revealed vulnerabilities in U.S. missile defense systems and highlighted Iran’s technological advancements, possibly aided by Chinese and Russian technology, enabling Tehran to sustain its military campaign and complicate U.S. strategic calculations in the Middle East.