Israel has absorbed four rounds of punishing Iranian ballistic missile and drone bombardments since the spring of 2024. Although Israel has managed to intercept about 90 percent of the projectiles, the few that have gotten through have caused damage and claimed lives, proving that even the best air defense system is not 100 percent hermetic.

Israel is inured to such attacks.

Israeli towns and villages in the northern Galilee were terrorized by katyushas launched from southern Lebanon by Palestinian guerrillas in the late 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s.

During the 1991 Gulf War, residential buildings in Tel Aviv and elsewhere were damaged by Iraqi Scud missiles fired on the order of President Saddam Hussein.

In 2006, during Israel’s first war with Hezbollah, missiles rained down on northern and central Israel.

Since the start of the current war pitting the United States and Israel against Iran, the Iranian regime, Israel’s deadliest enemy, has fired more than 400 missiles and several hundred drones at Israeli cities.

During last June’s 12-day war, in which the United States participated, Iran launched 400-plus ballistic missiles and upwards of 1,000 drones at Israel.

In its first direct clash with Israel, in April 2024, Iran directed 120 ballistic missiles, 30 cruise missiles and 170 drones at Israel. These barrages prompted Israeli air strikes, which greatly damaged Iran’s anti-missile batteries. During the course of the Iranian strikes, Israel received interception support from the US........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)