According to Hebrew media, the number of Israelis injured in the Iranian strikes has risen to approximately 70, including two in critical condition, in addition to one death. Approximately 300 people were evacuated in Tel Aviv after their homes were damaged, in addition to 100 others in the Ramat Gan municipality.
The Hebrew newspaper Haaretz reported that Iranian missiles completely destroyed nine buildings in Ramat Gan, and caused damage to hundreds of apartments and vehicles.
The scenes of destruction and injuries emerging from Tel Aviv, documenting direct hits from dozens of missiles, have raised new questions about the effectiveness of Israel's air defense systems, despite years of investment and development.
These strikes posed one of the greatest challenges facing the Israeli defense system since the start of the war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, which included attempts to intercept missiles from Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, in addition to Iran.
According to a US official, US defense systems helped intercept some Iranian missiles. Although Israel claims to have intercepted most of the missiles, Iran has managed to inflict casualties, material damage, and spread panic within Israel through its ongoing attacks.
A look at the components of Israel's air defense:
Arrow system:
Developed with US support, it is used to intercept long-range missiles, such as those recently launched by Iran. It has also been used to intercept missiles launched by the Houthi group in Yemen.
David's Sling:
Developed in cooperation with the United States, it targets medium-range missiles, such as those possessed by Hezbollah. It has been used several times since the start of the war.
Iron Dome:
Developed with US support to intercept short-range missiles, it has intercepted dozens of missiles since entering service, particularly during the current war on Gaza and the confrontations with Hezbollah. The Israeli military claims its success rate exceeds 90%.
Iron Beam:
Israel is developing a new laser-based defense system that could significantly reduce the cost of interception. While an Iron Dome interceptor missile costs around $50,000, and David's Sling and Arrow missile systems cost over $2 million each, the cost of a single laser strike is expected to be no more than a few dollars. However, the system is not yet operational.
