00:00.
00:17Amid rising tensions in the Gulf,
00:20Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC,
00:25has conducted a major missile drill targeting a replica of the U.S.-operated Al-Dafra Air Base in the United
00:34Arab Emirates.
00:35The exercise, captured in recent reports and social media footage,
00:40demonstrates Iran's enhanced missile capabilities, including new warheads designed to penetrate hardened bunkers and underground facilities.
00:50Al-Dafra currently hosts roughly 5,000 U.S. troops,
00:55and serves as a key hub for American operations across the region,
01:00including fighter jets and strategic support for missions throughout the Middle East.
01:05Footage shows ballistic missiles being launched from mobile transporters,
01:10striking mock base structures and producing massive explosions.
01:14Iranian media identifies the missiles as Imad, Gadar, and possibly newer models like Kebar Shikan or Haj Qasem,
01:24all equipped with advanced earth-penetrating warheads.
01:28These warheads are designed to burrow through reinforced concrete or soil before detonation,
01:35making them capable of targeting command centers, aircraft shelters, and underground storage facilities, similar to Al-Dafra.
01:43The drill follows the 2025 U.S.-Israel strikes on Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow and Natanz,
01:52where B-2 stealth bombers deployed massive ordnance penetrator bunker busters,
01:58reportedly setting back Iran's nuclear program by years.
02:02In response, Iran accelerated its missile development,
02:06unveiling bunker-busting warheads by late 2025,
02:10and fortifying nuclear sites with concrete shields and sealed tunnels to protect against future airstrikes.
02:19From Iran's perspective, U.S. bases in the Gulf, including Al-Dafra, Al-Udayd in Qatar,
02:26and others in Bahrain and Kuwait represent encirclement and threats to sovereignty.
02:33IRGC commanders have repeatedly warned that these installations are legitimate targets in any conflict.
02:40The U.S., meanwhile, views Iran's missile program as a direct threat.
02:46Recent deployments, including aircraft carriers and reinforcements in the Gulf,
02:51have heightened tensions, prompting Iran to flex its missile capabilities as a deterrent.
02:56This isn't Iran's first mock strike.
03:00Similar exercises targeted U.S. carriers in 2020 and Israeli bases in 2024.
03:07But the focus on bunker-penetrating technology is a direct response to last year's strikes,
03:14showcasing advancements like underground launch sites and precision-guided missiles capable of surviving U.S. stealth attacks.
03:22The drill carries serious risks.
03:26Miscalculations or errors could trigger U.S. preemptive action, potentially igniting a broader conflict.
03:33Even simulated strikes near UAE soil could strain Iran-UAE relations, disrupt the Strait of Hormuz,
03:41and spike global oil prices as 30 percent of seaborne oil passes through the strait.
03:47If tensions escalate, regional proxies may intensify attacks involving the U.S., Israel, and even allied powers like China, Russia,
03:58and North Korea.
04:00Iran has warned that any attack could spark a regional war.
04:04The inclusion of bunker-busting missiles signals Tehran's readiness to strike hardened U.S. sites,
04:11but it also risks accelerating Iran's nuclear ambitions, potentially inviting further sanctions or strikes.
04:19U.S. officials have called such exercises reckless, while Iranian leaders frame them as defensive maneuvers.
04:27Diplomatic channels remain strained, with no immediate signs of de-escalation in sight.
04:33As tensions simmer, the latest IRGC drill sends a clear message.
04:39Iran is rapidly rebuilding and modernizing its missile capabilities,
04:44asserting regional deterrence and signaling that any misstep could have far-reaching consequences for the Middle East and beyond.
04:52Iran is rapidly ongoing in Poland.
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