Former Pentagon official David Des Roches stated that the U.S. military's strike strategy has shifted since the first phase of the war, when the strikes targeted Iranian leadership to decapitate them and weaken Iran's ability to launch multiple ballistic missiles in succession. These strikes meant that Iran "could no longer launch multiple missiles in succession to penetrate defenses," although he also noted that Iran "can still launch a single missile or two or three missiles at a time, and these missiles are usually intercepted."
After Iran's attack on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. bombing shifted to "targeting Iranian maritime surveillance and launch facilities," such as observation towers near the port of Chabahar, which Iran had previously used to locate maritime targets via civilian navigation systems.
However, in recent days, U.S. operations have moved further inland. "We're seeing the targets expand inland, with the aim of isolating the coastal areas and preventing Iran from reinforcing the coast with missiles, troops, and drones," Des Roches said. "The next phase is expected to focus on targeting the Iranian national leadership, core military facilities, and dual-use infrastructure."
However, he also warned that relying solely on air power to achieve strategic objectives has significant limitations. The reality is that airstrikes never achieve the effects portrayed in propaganda, or rather, they rarely do.
