Israel’s air defense failed under barrage of powerful Iranian missiles

Before the start of “True Promise 3”— Iran’s missile attack on occupied lands — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Iran’s missiles as buses filled with explosives, poised to strike a Zionist city.

But now, according to Israeli military officials, Iran has launched over 200 missiles toward occupied territories since Friday. Many of them have penetrated the famous Israeli air defenses, forcing the army to warn its own people that “these defenses are not magical.”

The scenes of destruction on the streets of Tel Aviv have raised concerns about what some considered “impenetrable” defensive layers, including the Iron Dome.

The Telegraph further explained the extensive damage to the south and north of Tel Aviv, stating: “Photos show massive piles of debris and protruding steel rebars, drawing comparisons to Gaza.”

Additionally, video footage from Friday night’s attack shows missiles landing in and around the Kirya complex — the Israeli Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv. Soldiers were among the hundreds injured, a fact that Israeli officials have already confirmed.

The London publication also highlighted that a seemingly clandestine research center in Tel Aviv, affiliated with the Israeli army, and a refinery in Haifa were struck. While a significant number of the hundreds of Iranian missiles successfully penetrated Israel’s sophisticated air defenses, the army kept silent on the exact number in order to avoid disclosing information that could aid Iran in future attacks.

Nevertheless, Iran’s attacks show the vulnerabilities even within the world’s most sophisticated air defense systems when faced with ballistic missiles.

Ballistic missiles can reach speeds above Mach 5 — much faster than most ground-to-air defenses can track or destroy.

The David’s Sling is one of Israel’s defenses designed for this purpose, but even it struggles when faced with a heavy barrage of dozens of missiles at once. The greater the number, the greater the chance that at least some will break through.

According to the Telegraph, experts say Iran is likely employing a large number of its ballistic missiles to overwhelm and confuse Israel’s defenses, clearing a path for more advanced weapons.