Israel’s missile defenses praised amid escalating strikes by Iran regime
Israel’s defensive capabilities have been put to the test amid the recent barrage of Iranian missiles fired at the Jewish state. Security experts have praised the “outstanding performance” of Israel’s defense systems, which they say have prevented “far greater destruction.”
Dr. Yehoshua Kalisky of the Institute for National Security Studies highlighted the destructive potential of Iranian ballistic missiles, noting their size, maneuverability, and high velocity. Despite this threat, he calculated that Israel intercepted approximately 95% of the ballistic missiles launched toward its territory.
Benham Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, estimates that about 20 of the Iranian missiles have successfully penetrated Israel’s defenses out of the 250-300 missiles sent into Israeli airspace. The Israeli military confirmed that 20 more missiles were fired on Tuesday, with five managing to get through without causing any fatalities.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that Iran had also sent over 100 UAVs towards Israel, all of which were intercepted. Taleblu noted that Iran has been targeting civilian population centers in a bid to erode Israel’s will to continue its campaign against the Islamic Republic’s military sites.
Despite these challenges, Israel has deployed a range of defensive capabilities to protect its citizens. The Magen Or, a new addition to Israel’s defensive layer, uses laser systems to intercept Iranian UAVs. Additionally, the U.S. deployed its Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery (THAAD) to Israel in 2024, further enhancing Israel’s defenses.
Familiar systems such as Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow 2, and Arrow 3 continue to offer protection against various threats. The C-dome, Israel’s naval interception system, is deployed to Sa’ar 6-class missile ships, safeguarding strategic maritime assets.
In addition to defending itself, Israel has also targeted Iranian ballistic missile storage sites and launching infrastructure. The IDF has reported destroying a third of Iranian missile launchers thus far.
While the conflict continues, Taleblu believes that the longer it persists, the more militarily weakened the Islamic Republic will become. However, he emphasizes that the regime remains lethal, as evidenced by the significant disruptions caused by Iranian ballistic missiles hitting civilian population centers.
As the conflict unfolds, it is clear that Israel’s defensive capabilities have played a crucial role in mitigating the impact of Iranian missile attacks. The ongoing conflict underscores the importance of preventing regimes like Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and possessing a large ballistic missile arsenal. As the situation continues to evolve, Israel remains vigilant in defending its citizens against external threats.
