Yazd
A central Iranian province and city that serves as a strategic hub for the Islamic Republic's ballistic missile program and underground military infrastructure.
Yazd is a historic city and province in central Iran, traditionally known for its unique desert architecture and Zoroastrian heritage. However, in the context of modern regional security, Yazd has emerged as a critical node in the Islamic Republic’s strategic depth. The region hosts significant military installations, including hardened underground facilities designed to shield Iran's most advanced weaponry from aerial surveillance and potential strikes. The Yazd military complex is particularly noted for its role in the deployment of long-range ballistic missiles. Intelligence reports have frequently identified the base as a launch site for the Khorramshahr-4, a liquid-fueled ballistic missile with a range and payload capacity that directly threatens Israeli territory. The use of Yazd as a primary operational hub reflects Tehran's strategy of dispersing its strategic assets far from its borders, utilizing the mountainous and arid terrain of central Iran to complicate intelligence gathering and interception efforts. In July 2026, Yazd became a focal point of the direct kinetic war between the United States and Iran. Following reports of increased activity at the base—including engineering work at tunnel entrances—U.S. forces conducted significant strikes against the 'missile city' infrastructure in the province. These operations, reportedly involving B-1B bombers, represent a shift from coastal engagements to deep-strike missions against the regime's core strategic assets. The strikes in Yazd are part of a broader U.S. campaign to degrade the IRGC's ability to project power and threaten regional stability.