Jerusalem/Tehran, June 8 (IANS) Iran fired several missiles at Israel on Sunday evening and warned Israel not to retaliate, the first such attack since a ceasefire in April.

As soon as the ceasefire came into effect on April 8, Iran’s skies were cleared of American and Israeli warplanes. Since then, Iran has used the ceasefire to enhance its military capabilities. Despite the damage caused during the conflict, Tehran has managed to reopen the entrances to tunnels and caves where it stored missiles and drones.According to CNN report, Iran has reopened 50 of the 69 tunnels that were bombed during the war. The United States alone attacked more than 13,000 targets, including excavation equipment that could be used to access underground missile and drone storage sites. With no fear of US or Israeli warplanes operating overhead, Iranian forces have repaired damaged facilities, reorganized logistics networks and ramped up production lines that had been disrupted during the dynamic phase of the conflict.According to a report by DW, intelligence assessments show that only about half of Iran’s missile and drone arsenal was destroyed during the fighting, leaving thousands of martyred drones and dozens of missile launchers intact. Iran adapted its strategy by reducing launch rates to conserve inventories, as well as improving attack accuracy, targeting the energy and water infrastructure of neighboring Gulf states.This change demonstrated not only conservation of capacity but also growth in operational effectiveness. According to the same DW report, drone production proved particularly profitable, with Iran able to manufacture up to 10,000 units per month before the war.The relatively low cost of drones compared to the high expense of intercepting them created a cost asymmetry that favored Tehran. It also enabled Iran to act as a regional proxy and supply drones to Russia, expanding its influence beyond its borders.Missile production continued despite attacks on factories, with estimates ranging from 40 to 300 missiles per month depending on wartime conditions. According to another CNN report, foreign support, particularly from China and Russia in the form of precision components and machine tools, helped maintain Iran’s missile industry despite sanctions.Beyond replenishment, Iran took advantage of its ability to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, threatening global oil flows and using that pressure as leverage in indirect negotiations.Therefore, the ceasefire became less a step toward peace and more a calculated opportunity for Iran to repair tunnels, replenish drone stocks, and restart missile production at its underground facilities.