Iran's military strategy is designed for survival and endurance rather than outright victory in conventional warfare against adversaries like the United States and Israel, according to experts. This approach is evident in its structure and current operational status following extensive U.S. and Israeli strikes. Operation Epic Fury, as of March 23, 2026, has targeted over 9,000 sites, including missile facilities and IRGC command centers, significantly reducing Iran's ballistic missile and drone launch capabilities by approximately 86% and 73% respectively. Despite these setbacks, Iran retains substantial capabilities, particularly in its missile program, which constitutes the largest inventory in the Middle East, and its naval forces, built for area denial and disrupting maritime trade. The military operates under a dual structure of the conventional Artesh and the ideologically driven Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), with the IRGC receiving preferential resources. While air superiority has been largely achieved by U.S. forces, Iran's ground forces remain largely intact, and its influence is extended through a network of proxy forces managed by the IRGC's Quds Force.