Minimum damage
According to Israeli and US officials, almost all of the ballistic missiles and drones that Iran launched into Israeli territory late on April 13th and early on April 14th (Vietnam time) were intercepted or missed their targets.
The majority of the attack was launched directly from Iranian territory targeting Israel over a period of about five hours. However, the Israeli military stated today, April 14th, that 99% of the more than 300 missiles and UAVs fired by Iran were intercepted by Israel and its partners, with only "a small number" of ballistic missiles reaching Israel.
An anti-missile system was activated after Iran launched drones and missiles toward Israel on April 14, 2024.
Israel stated that a total of approximately 170 UAVs, over 30 cruise missiles, and more than 120 ballistic missiles were launched by Iran into Israel. Additionally, Israeli military spokesman Danial Hagari said that some of the weapons launched into Israel were fired from Iraq and Yemen.
In a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on April 14, US President Joe Biden said that Israel won because no assets were affected.
Danial Hagari stated that the ballistic missiles aimed at Israel landed at the Netavim air base (in southern Israel), emphasizing that the attack caused only minor damage to infrastructure. Following the incident, the base continued to operate normally.
Photographs released by the Israeli Air Force early on April 14 showed F-35 and F-15 fighter jets returning to base after successfully completing interception and air defense missions.
Iran launched the attack in retaliation for an airstrike on its embassy compound in Damascus on April 1st that killed several officers of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack.
Israel receives support from many countries.
US officials said more than 70 UAVs and three ballistic missiles were intercepted by US Navy ships and military aircraft, but did not provide details about the defense systems used to shoot down the missiles. CNN reported on April 14 that the US Navy shot down at least three ballistic missiles using the Aegis missile defense system on two guided-missile destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean. At the same time, US fighter jets also shot down numerous Iranian bombs and projectiles.
US President Joe Biden (left) meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Israel, on October 18, 2023.
Although the exact locations of the US jets' operations were not disclosed, Reuters reported on April 14, citing several informed sources, that US air defense forces were operating at the US military base in al-Tanf (Syria), as well as along the Jordanian border and in eastern Syria.
In a statement, President Biden said that the U.S. was well prepared to help defend Israel against an Iranian attack. "To support Israel's defense, the U.S. military deployed aircraft and ballistic missile defense destroyers to the region this past week. Thanks to these deployments and the skilled expertise of our servicemen, we helped Israel shoot down virtually all incoming UAVs and missiles," Biden said.
He also indicated they were prepared to intervene using Royal Air Force aircraft in the area. A statement from the UK Ministry of Defence said: "These British jets will deter any air attack within our existing operational range."
In The Times of Israel on April 14, Israeli military spokesman Danial Hagari also stated that France was among the countries that participated in defending Israel against the Iranian attack. "France has very good technology, jets, and radar – and I know they are contributing to patrolling the airspace," Danial Hagari revealed. He did not provide details on whether French jets shot down any missiles launched by Iran.
"We are working closely with the US, the UK, and France – the countries that took action on the evening of April 13. This cooperative relationship has always been close, but tonight it has manifested itself in an unusual way," said Daniel Hagari.
Neither the UK nor France has yet responded to this information.
Strong domestic defense
Israel operates a range of systems to intercept attacks from all types of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and low-flying missiles. Among these, Israel's Iron Dome system has received considerable attention since the Hamas-Israel conflict erupted on October 7, 2023, causing the current turmoil in the region.
An image of an Israeli Air Force F-15 Eagle at an air base on April 14, 2024.
According to the country's Missile Defense Organization (IMDO), the Iron Dome is the lowest tier of Israel's missile defense system.
Across Israel, there are at least 10 Iron Dome batteries. Each battery is equipped with missile-detecting radar, which then uses a command and control system to quickly calculate whether an incoming projectile poses a threat or is likely to hit an uninhabited area. If the missile poses a threat, the Iron Dome will fire missiles from the ground to intercept it in the air.
According to IMDO, the next step on the missile defense ladder is the David's Sling air defense missile system, which protects against short- and medium-range threats. This system was developed by IMDO and the American defense company Raytheon.
Finally, there are the Israeli Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 systems, developed in collaboration with the United States. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Arrow 2 uses fragmentation warheads to destroy incoming ballistic missiles in the terminal phase – as they approach their target – in the upper atmosphere. The Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance (MDAA) describes Arrow 2 as an upgraded version of the US Patriot missile defense system, with a range of 90 km and a maximum altitude of 51 km.
Meanwhile, Arrow 3 uses offensive technology to intercept incoming ballistic missiles in space, before they re-enter the atmosphere en route to their target. In addition, Israel also possesses modern fighter jets, including the F-35I stealth fighter, which it has previously used to shoot down UAVs and cruise missiles.
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