This is not to say the terrorist-sponsoring nation is not a threat, because they most certainly are—but this assault was a total fail as Israel, the U.S., and other allied nations were able to neutralize approximately 99 percent of the over 300 missiles and drones the Islamic Republic sent toward Israel in its attack.
The assault, which was telegraphed in advance, was almost entirely neutralized:
Air raid sirens and loud booms sounded across Israel Saturday evening after Iran launched a barrage of missiles and drones at the country in a retaliatory attack, but Israeli officials said the assault was almost entirely thwarted by air defense systems and with the help of the U.S. and Israel’s other allies.
More than 300 missiles and drones were fired from Iran toward Israel, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari said. He said virtually all of the weapons were intercepted before entering Israeli territory and he reported only minor damage to one military base from the few ballistic missiles that did land in the country. Hagari confirmed that a 10-year-old girl had been “severely injured by shrapnel,” but said “as far as we know, there are no additional casualties.”
As we’ve reported, Iran quickly announced the conflict was over, even before the last projectiles had entered Israeli airspace. The only conclusion one can take from this is they felt they had to answer for the Israeli actions to save face but were terrified of a war with that nation. Why? Because Israel’s air force would decimate the aging aircraft of Iran and further embarrass the bellicose but toothless leaders. Yes, they can still wreak havoc by endorsing terroristic ads, as they’ve done so often in the past, but in a serious war with Israel, they’d probably get their hats handed to them.
And they know it.
The attacks were largely ineffective:
“The Iranian threat met the aerial and technological superiority of the IDF, along with a strong fighting coalition — which together intercepted the overwhelming majority of the threats. 99% of the threats launched towards Israeli territory were intercepted — a very significant strategic achievement,” Hagari said….
“Very little damage was caused,” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in a statement early Sunday, lauding his own forces and Israel’s American and other international partners for having “thwarted this attack in an impressive manner.”
Hagari said Iran launched about 170 drones, of which “zero crossed into Israeli territory.” He said every one of the 30 cruise missiles fired by Iran also failed to reach Israeli territory, with 25 being intercepted by Israeli fighter jets.