The latest number of ballistic missiles fired stands at 181 according to reliable sources in Israel. Many were fired at strictly civilian targets in central Israel, along with military installations across the country. Video from Israel shows a number of missiles were able to overwhelm the missile defense system, but miraculously no Israelis were seriously hurt. The one base that was also the target of the previous Iranian attack was Nevatim AB in the Arava Desert near the city of Arad.
Nevatim was built by the US in compensation for air bases lost in the Sinai when Egypt and Israel signed a peace agreement. It is the epitome of what a hardened base design. All the hardened aircraft shelters are dispersed, and there are numerous wide taxiways and runways to operate from, allowing operations to continue in the event of runway damage. What makes this base critical, is it is where the Israel Air Force’s F-35s are based. Additionally, US forces used this base as a forward staging area during the various wars fought in the wake of 9/11.
Additionally, it is reported that the Iranians targeted the Mossad headquarters, where the beeper attack was planned and executed, along with Dimona nuclear facility and other bases around the country. There are no immediate reports of damage to any of those facilities.
Clearly, the Iranians understand the value of this airbase as they have fired dozens of their valuable ballistic missiles at it, but to no effect it appears. This is why Israel has invested the bulk of its long-range attack capability in aircraft and their weapons, in lieu of ballistic missiles. With a few aircraft and bunker busting bombs, the IAF took out the entire command structure of the terrorist organization Hezbollah.
What remains to be seen is the response Israel will have in the wake of the attack. It is possible they will target petroleum and power stations as they did in Yemen. Such an attack would cripple the Iranian regime economically in a way the Trump Administration did with sanctions. It is also possible they may try to take out the Iranian nuclear facilities or leadership target like in Lebanon and Gaza, but such attacks are far deeper into Iran and at far greater risk without certainty of outcome. The coming days will give us that answer.
In the short term, the Iranians again failed to damage Israel. It is a serious blow to their credibility in the Middle East. Ironically, the only deaths resulting from this attack were one Palestinian hit by falling debris, and reportedly five Iranians killed in a launch explosion. These failures and the possibility of a crippling Israeli response could lead to a loosening grip of power in Iran. Regime change may be the result.
Jews annually tell the story of how Esther vanquished the Persian enemy Haman, saving the Jewish people from extermination. If there was cause for another book to be added to the scriptures, this may be the new story told by Jews in coming generations, of the salvation of the Jews from an evil Persian empire. Time will tell.
Well said 👌