Iran’s ballistic missiles: How much of a threat are they to Israel?
Iran’s recent direct missile and drone attack on Israel marks a significant escalation in regional tensions, showcasing Tehran’s growing missile capabilities and willingness to engage openly rather than through proxies. The barrage targeted the Nevatim airbase, a strategic site housing Israel’s F-35I jets, although Israel’s defense systems, notably the Arrow, managed to intercept most of the threats. This incident highlights Iran’s continued development and expansion of its missile arsenal, including the introduction of potentially hypersonic missiles, which could challenge existing defense technologies due to their speed and complex trajectories. The global community watches closely as these developments could shift the strategic balance in the region.
Iran Strikes with Ballistic Missiles
After Iran targeted Israel with a barrage of drones and missiles last weekend, world leaders are urging the Jewish state not to retaliate.
Tehran engaged in direct warfare for the first time in decades when it launched more than 300 projectiles toward Israel on Saturday evening. The Iranian regime traditionally relies on proxy groups to carry out violence in its stead. But tensions in the region have increased since Hamas’ October 7 massacre, and Iran’s aerial attack now pitches the Middle East into greater uncertainty.
The Barrage
While the Israel Defense Forces and its allies successfully intercepted nearly all of the projectiles launched over the weekend, the strike shows that Iran’s weapons stockpile is growing. The regime seeks to build its arsenal of UAVs and ballistic missiles. Since the nation lacks modern aerial platforms, it relies on asymmetric capabilities.
According to retired Gen. Frank McKenzie, the former head of U.S. CENTCOM, Tehran appears to have deployed most of its ballistic missiles capable of reaching Israel. According to most sources, it launched about 120 out of 150 missiles with that capability, from a total stockpile of approximately 3,000 missiles.
The most serious threat during the attack came from high-speed ballistic missiles. Tehran’s Shahed series of lethal unmanned aerial vehicles work at longer ranges, but they carry a modest bomb of up to 50 kilograms. Videos of these drones headed toward the Jewish state circulated widely on social media. They would have taken six hours to reach their destination if they were not intercepted first.
- 104-0: How the F-15 fighter has such an insane combat record - November 5, 2024
- F-22 Raptor stealth fighter could have been ‘shape shifted’ into a bomber - November 5, 2024
- The U.S. Navy’s railgun nightmare can be summed up in 2 words - November 4, 2024