Claimed by IRGC Aerospace Force Commander Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh (Iranian)
IRGC Aerospace Force Commander Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh stated that Iran's air defense systems shot down 14 of 16 U.S. cruise missiles before they reached their targets, limiting damage to peripheral infrastructure.
Filed 3/18/2026
Disputed
Neutral analysis
Intercept claims from both sides appear inflated for domestic audiences; the actual intercept rate likely falls between the two competing narratives based on available radar and satellite data.
Verification notes
Pentagon disputed this figure, claiming all munitions hit their intended targets. Independent analysts reviewing radar tracking data from commercial sources suggest 2-4 missiles may have been intercepted, not 14. Neither side's figure has been independently confirmed.