Iranian military officials acknowledged tactical failures during the recent war with Israel while insisting the country's missile capabilities remain largely intact, with a senior Western diplomat stated missile sites may now be relocated deeper into eastern Iran for protection. "If we keep. "We did not think that they would target our commanders and scientists in their own homes along with their families. We miscalculated and admit that we were wrong,"  Mohammad Reza Naghdi, a Revolutionary Guards deputy commander said. Despite strikes that killed dozens of senior commanders, Naghdi claimed "Israel has not destroyed even 3% of our missile launchers," the Financial Times reported.

The Revolutionary Guards recently staged a public weapons exhibition at Tehran's National Aerospace Park, displaying ballistic missiles, hypersonic systems, and attack drones. The display sought to project military strength and reassure citizens following the 12-day war with Israel and the US that exposed significant vulnerabilities. Israeli strikes killed dozens of senior commanders and nuclear scientists, while over 1,000 people died in Iran, according to the Financial Times. Tehran argues its massive missile response forced the conflict to halt.

A 35-year-old accountant named Nasrin stopped before a Sejjil ballistic missile, remembering social media images of the weapon soaring through skies during fighting, the Financial Times reported. "Thanks to these missiles, the US and Israel knelt down before us," she remarked. "Without them, Iran would have become like Gaza."

Last month's presentation formed part of a campaign to convey strength following a war inflicting severe damage on the Islamic republic – and to assure citizens the nation remains combat-ready should necessity arise, according to the Financial Times.

Brigadier General Ali Balali of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, serving as exhibition director, told attendees: "People are seeing these missiles and drones up close, and realise they're locally made weapons to defend the homeland," the Financial Times reported. "Our capabilities place us within the club of nations known for significant missile development."

During months following the 12-day conflict, wherein the US briefly participated before negotiating a ceasefire, numerous Iranians describe existing in a state of "no war, no peace," according to the Financial Times. Iran has prohibited UN inspectors from accessing its most sensitive nuclear installations, which sustained US bombing, and has reached deadlock with Washington over resuming atomic energy program talks, the Financial Times reported. European powers have additionally reimposed sanctions.

These developments have produced mounting anxiety within Iran that renewed combat may prove inevitable rather than hypothetical, according to the Financial Times. "Our missile capability must continue to grow," stated Sara, a 19-year-old psychology student at the aerospace park. "The war could resume at any moment."

Officials insist Iran's military preparedness undergoes swift restoration, the Financial Times reported. Yet the exhibition also represented an attempt to shift public narrative away from vulnerabilities exposed during combat, when Israeli forces eliminated dozens of senior commanders and nuclear scientists in a devastating opening assault. Iranian authorities reported casualties exceeding 1,000.

By launching what it describes as more than 600 missiles in retaliation – the most extensive bombardment Israel has confronted in its history – Tehran argues it compelled the war to cease, the Financial Times reported.

Iranian officials contend the war should be assessed not solely by deaths but by financial costs Israel and the US incurred intercepting relatively inexpensive Iranian munitions and executing long-range aerial operations, including with expensive precision guided missiles, the Financial Times reported.

Shahed drones, utilized by Russia in its Ukraine war, received prominent display, alongside multiple other drones reverse engineered from US and Israeli models Iran captured, the Financial Times reported. Still, the Islamic republic has also sought to address its shortcomings. Domestically-manufactured radar systems failed to prevent Israeli jets and drones from striking Tehran. In recent YouTube interviews with hardline director Javad Mogouei, ministers and military commanders admitted Israeli tactics caught them unprepared.

"We were taken by surprise by the way the enemy operated," stated Mohammad Reza Naghdi, a Revolutionary Guards deputy commander during the war, according to the Financial Times. "We did not think that they would target our commanders and scientists in their own homes along with their families. We miscalculated and admit that we were wrong."

The most embarrassing moment occurred with Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh's assassination in Tehran in July 2024, when Iran declined to retaliate against Israel, the Financial Times reported. Officials now acknowledge this reflected not strategic restraint but an uncomfortable reality: Tehran recognized it lacked sufficient capabilities to respond effectively and required time for rebuilding.

Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naeini, spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, informed Mogouei that Iran had worked to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of its missiles during subsequent months, according to the Financial Times.

"We are working around the clock to reach a new level of readiness," Naeini declared. "Without long-range ballistic missiles, this war would have lasted eight years [like the war with Iraq], not 12 days. It would have taken us a year, not hours, to go on the offensive."

A senior Western diplomat in Tehran stated missile sites may now relocate deeper into eastern Iran – farther from Israeli and American aircraft – for enhanced protection, the Financial Times reported. "If we keep the enemy's targets beyond its access, there won't be another war," Naghdi stated. "Their costs must exceed their achievements."

Western diplomats are also monitoring for indications whether the republic seeks foreign assistance to rebuild its military strength, the Financial Times reported. The critical question, as one expressed it, involves whether nations like Russia, China and Pakistan are offering support to Iran.

For many aerospace park visitors, the conclusion proved evident: Iran's future depended not merely on protecting but strengthening its weapons program, according to the Financial Times. "If we put aside our missile programme, we will be attacked more severely next time," stated Keyvan, a 27-year-old computer engineer. "After the war, we realise more than ever how invaluable these missiles are."

The post Report: Iran may have relocated missile sites east to prevent Israel strikes appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Abdi came to Israel as a guest of the Israel-Africa Institute. In conversation with Israel Hayom, he revealed Turkey conducts launch experiments in Eritrea with ballistic missile that can reach Israel, among other destinations.

"The main message for the State of Israel is that Israel cannot afford to stay out of Africa, out of the Red Sea arena, out of the western Indian Ocean. Many of Israel's strategic rivals are advancing very strongly on the continent right now," Abdi said.

He added, "Turkey signed a groundbreaking security cooperation agreement with Somalia. There are thousands of Turkish soldiers stationed there, and they are building a space base that will ultimately allow Turkey to improve the range of its ballistic missiles."

Abdi added that an area north of Mogadishu has been identified, where the Somali president announced Turkey received land for port development and a space base. "If I were Israel, I would definitely be worried."

Turkey, he said, has "blue water capabilities" – Turkish naval vessels patrol through the Suez Canal, down the Red Sea and along the Somali coast. "For the first time, Turkey is not just a Mediterranean power, but also a power in the Red Sea and in the western Indian Ocean."

Eugene Kandel, chairman of the Board of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, said at the conference, "Radical Islam operates in Africa too and tries to return Africa to conflict against the West. Israel must not let this happen."

Shiri Fein-Grossman, CEO of the Israel-Africa Relations Institute, said, "Israel can make a tremendous difference in Africa at a relatively low investment."

The post Turkey secretly building Somalia space base to boost missile range appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

The capacity issues have been on the US radar for several months, the official told The Wall Street Journal, prompting Washington to strengthen Israel's defensive posture through ground-based, naval, and aerial systems. The Pentagon has responded to the escalating tensions since June by deploying additional missile defense capabilities throughout the region, though officials now worry about America's own interceptor consumption rates.

"Neither the US nor the Israelis can continue to sit and intercept missiles all day," Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told The Wall Street Journal. "The Israelis and their friends need to move with all deliberate haste to do whatever needs to be done, because we cannot afford to sit and play catch."

Requests for comment from Israel Aerospace Industries, the manufacturer of Arrow interceptors, went unanswered. The Israel Defense Forces provided a statement saying, "The IDF is prepared and ready to handle any scenario. Unfortunately, we are unable to comment on matters related to munitions."

After war in Gaza broke out almost two years ago following the Oct. 7 atrocities by Hamas, Israel's air defense capabilities got a boost from the US in the form of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), in part because of Iran's attacks on Israel in two separate occasions: following the assassination of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon, and the strike on an Iranian-linked diplomatic compound in Damascus.

The post Does Israel have enough interceptors for Iran war? appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Two days ago, Israel Hayom revealed these conditions, which include Iran's agreement to halt all uranium enrichment on its soil, the destruction of all nuclear facilities not related to civilian purposes – including Fordow – and all centrifuge facilities, as well as strict and continuous oversight of any remaining facilities. The ultimatum reportedly comes with a deadline of just a few days, with a warning that if Iran does not comply, the United States will continue to support Israel and ensure the destruction of these facilities, particularly Fordow.

Israel is pushing for additional conditions to address Iran's ballistic missile systems and its support for terrorist organizations outside its borders. It remains unclear whether these will be included. According to an Israeli official, the Israeli Air Force is currently engaged in intensive strikes targeting Iran's ballistic missile systems, nuclear facilities, and regime infrastructure, with these operations expected to reach their peak in the coming days. Regarding the Fordow facility – the most significant challenge – it is still uncertain how the underground site, where critical bomb components are stored, will be neutralized.

President Trump is expected to decide whether to join Israel in an attack on Iran, particularly targeting Fordow, where B52 bombers and bunker-busting bombs would be used to destroy the facility. Opponents in the United States are primarily concerned about potential retaliatory attacks on oil fields and facilities in neighboring Persian Gulf states, such as Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. Leaks in the American media from these opponents have suggested that Iran was not actually close to developing a nuclear bomb and included a warning to Israel about depleting stocks of Arrow missiles. Both claims are far from reality.

Security officials state that, due to significant damage to Iran's missile launchers, Israel's missile inventory remains sufficient for many more days of fighting, with replenishment occurring at a rapid pace. Regarding Iran's military nuclear program, Israel Hayom reported that the Mossad and Britain's MI6 have confirmed that Iran has made rapid strides in recent months toward completing the trigger and mechanism needed for a nuclear bomb.

An American official noted that, alongside the ultimatum, military preparations continue – both for defensive and potential offensive actions. The official emphasized that the primary task is protecting American facilities and interests in the region, including ensuring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has threatened to close. A significant portion of the world's oil supply passes through this strait. The official added that other Western and Middle Eastern countries are involved in these efforts.

The post Trump's ultimatum to Iran: Israel may get what it wants appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Iran has labored for decades to build weapons that would enable it to strike Israel, located more than 621 miles from the country's western border. During the rounds of attacks with Iran since October 7, Iran used for the first time some of these means, including advanced missiles it developed only in recent years. In Tehran they announced today that Iran intends to use the "Kheibar" ballistic missile, with a range of 1,243 miles with a MaRV (Maneuverable Reentry Vehicle), which can evade interception and strike targets with accuracy of meters.

Iran's ballistic missile arsenal is large, diverse and confusing. Experts estimated in 2022 that Iran holds 3,000 ballistic missiles of all types and all ranges. Of these, about 2,000 missiles, according to estimates, have sufficient range to reach Israel. Among them is the Shahab-3 family, which includes the Emad missile, with a range of 1,243 miles and upgraded accuracy. Also the Khorramshahr, a ballistic missile with a large warhead of almost two tons. Many of the other missiles belong to older models, easier to intercept and much less accurate.

Iran also holds a fleet of cruise missiles, the fruit of years of development and implementation of "reverse engineering" of foreign technology that fell into Iranian hands. The Hoveyzeh cruise missile with a range of 808 miles can reach certain points in Israeli territory but its capability is limited and it is relatively easy to intercept.

The Soumar missile unveiled in 2015 has a range of 1,243 to 1,864 miles and can be launched from vessels and can even theoretically carry a nuclear warhead. The Paveh too, a cruise missile with a range of 994 miles, can easily reach Israeli territory and was successfully launched by Shiite militias in Iraq toward Israeli territory. The disadvantage in using cruise missiles is that they can be intercepted relatively easily compared to ballistic missiles whose interception is difficult and requires special systems like the Israeli Arrow and the American THAAD.

Unmanned threat

Iran's fleet of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles has become renowned with dozens of models for different purposes that have made Iran an international power of unmanned aircraft, which it exports to Russia and its satellites throughout the Middle East.

Tehran holds several models with sufficient range to reach Israel when launched from Iranian territory. The most familiar among them is the Shahed 136, with its triangular body structure and range of hundreds of miles. The model has become one of Russia's greatest threats to Ukraine, because it is simple to manufacture and easy to operate in swarms of hundreds of units.

Iran struggled to replicate Russian success with the Shahed 136, apparently due to the fact that Israeli air defense is much better than what the Ukrainians have. Iran also has jet suicide drones, characterized by greater speed, increased maneuverability and ability to carry and launch missiles, not just suicide on target. However, these tools, especially models that can reach Israeli territory, are relatively few, relatively expensive to manufacture, and when used against Israel they did not excel in survival against the air defense array.

Beyond the detailed means, various additional options exist for Iran to harm Israel, although they are less significant. The Iranian Air Force holds hundreds of fighter jets that theoretically can attack targets in Israeli territory, or launch cruise missiles that would strike with great accuracy.

A bold operation by the Iranian Air Force, especially if operating from a base in nearby Iraq, could provide some surprise. But against Israel's air superiority it is difficult to imagine such an operation, especially considering that few Iranian Air Force aircraft that took off during Operation Rising Lion, according to reports from live Israeli air broadcasts, fled the battle zone instead of confronting Israeli Air Force aircraft. Iran will not be able to provide its aircraft protection in hostile skies, nor refuel them in the air on the way to the distant target.

Another avenue of action open to Iran is terrorism in foreign countries. Israeli representations for years have been a target for the long arm of the Revolutionary Guard. It is likely that in the new situation created, Israeli representations are doing everything they can to defend themselves and prevent action by Tehran's agents.

The post Iran's options: Here is what its revenge could look like appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

A significant portion of the latest speech by the Houthi leader in Yemen was dedicated to Israel's operation in Syria. Abdul-Malik al-Houthi spoke about the strategic importance of controlling Mount Hermon's peak. From that point, he claimed, the IDF could observe all of Syria. More importantly, he accused Israel of planning to create a corridor from the Golan Heights to the Euphrates River, where it would join Kurdish forces supported by the US. The conspiracy theory woven by Abdul-Malik appears designed to justify the Houthis' continued aggression, even in the case of a Gaza ceasefire.

This sentiment was echoed in statements by Yahya Saree, the terrorist organization's official spokesman. The pretext of "supporting Gaza" becomes just another item on a long list. Saree speaks about the need to protect Yemen from Israeli attacks, as if his organization hadn't done everything possible to initiate conflict. The organization blocked a major maritime route to Israel in the Red Sea, launched hundreds of missiles and drones at vessels, and Abdul-Malik himself declared open warfare. Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a senior organization leader, reached peak absurdity when he accused Israel of "war crimes" in its strike. A classic case of attacking while playing victim.

It's important to understand that precisely at a moment of weakness in the pro-Iranian axis, with Hezbollah's defeat and the end of the Assad regime era in Syria, the Houthis see an opportunity to become Iran's favorite proxy.

After all, their geographical distance from Israel actually helps them while limiting Israel's response capabilities to aerial strikes. As a source in southern Yemen explained to me last week, even if senior Houthi military leadership is eliminated, without a massive ground operation, they will ultimately replenish their ranks.

That same distance transforms Yemen into Iran's testing laboratory for long-range ballistic missiles. True to form, Tehran prefers letting the local proxy bear the consequences of launching heavy missiles toward Israel, which test Israel's air defense systems. The Houthis claim these are hypersonic missiles breaking the sound barrier, but it's doubtful they possess capabilities matching those of a superpower like the US.

For now, the Iranians observe from the sidelines, evaluating performance without risking exposure. The experiment serves them in two ways. First, they see how Yemen too can become a fortress threatening Israel indirectly, should Israel want to destroy Iran's nuclear project. Second, they identify vulnerabilities in defense systems that they could exploit within that same project to destroy Israel.

The Houthis, for their part, expect financial support and military aid. The terrorist organization aims to leverage this to continue conquering Yemeni territory. The main entity among their opponents is the Presidential Council, an alliance between separatists aspiring to re-establish South Yemen and pro-Saudi elements from the old regime. These people are willing to cooperate with Israel, and we should seriously consider this opportunity.

Eventually, someone needs to fight the Houthis on the ground. If a significant portion of Iranian "foreign investments" shifts to Yemen in the near future, Israel risks losing an important potential ally. It will also have to deal in the future with "Houthis on steroids" controlling the important port city of Aden.

Another Houthi interest is gaining sympathy among anti-Israel elements in Saudi society. Abdul-Malik never misses an opportunity to criticize conservative Arab regimes. In his view, they collaborate with the US and Israel, abandoning the Palestinians. This sentiment exists among many citizens in Arab countries, and Abdul-Malik exploits it to undermine the authorities' stability. This is one reason Saudi Arabia cooled its normalization enthusiasm with rigid demands for a Palestinian state. And who better than Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman understands the feelings of young Saudis? These youth are exposed through social media to images of the war against Hamas in Gaza and are radicalizing their positions toward Israel. That's why he took a step back in negotiations. He's not concerned about Ramallah, but rather about stability being undermined in his own kingdom.

From Israel's perspective, a strategic move against the Houthis could be another foundation in developing relations with Riyadh. The more secure bin Salman feels in his rule, the more open he'll be to a peace agreement that would transform the Middle East.

The post Inside the Houthi bid to become Iran's favorite proxy appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

A key Iranian missile production facility has been destroyed in what appears to be a precision strike, according to satellite imagery analysis conducted by the Associated Press. The targeted complex, located at a Revolutionary Guards base, played a crucial role in Iran's ballistic missile development program.

NEW HIGH-DEF SATTELITE PHOTOS FROM IRAN: AP has released new satellite imagery of the Israeli strikes on the IRGC Shahroud base showing the damage; pay attention to the central blue building. pic.twitter.com/6IP8PqY6uu

— Monika (@Monika_is_His) October 29, 2024

 "While we cannot definitively say whether Iranian production capabilities were completely neutralized, as some experts suggest, or merely damaged, we now have sufficient photographic evidence to confirm substantial impact and destruction," says Fabian Hinz, an Iran missile program specialist at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Washington.

Located in Shahrud, a town in the rural Semnan province northeast of Tehran, the facility operated in a sparsely populated area.  Analysis of high-resolution imagery purchased from Planet Labs by AP shows a central building at the Shahrud base sustained direct hits, with multiple vehicles visible around the impact site. Three auxiliary facilities nearby also suffered damage, along with a newly constructed hangar.

"The presence of protective earthen barriers around this building suggests it handled highly explosive materials," notes Hinz, who has extensively studied the site and believes it served as a solid rocket fuel production facility. Satellite photos taken before the strike show large containers near the building that likely housed Kheibar Shekan and Fateh-1 ballistic missiles.

The post Satellite images show critical Iranian missile factory demolished appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

As tensions escalate on Israel's northern border, concerns grow about Hezbollah's missile capabilities and the effectiveness of Israel's civilian protection measures. In an exclusive interview with Makor Rishon, Dr. Yehoshua Kalisky, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), provides a comprehensive overview of Hezbollah's arsenal, its potential impact, and the readiness of Israel's defense systems.

The conflict with Hezbollah is intensifying, and as Israel Defense Forces (IDF) strikes in Lebanon become more extensive, the range and volume of missile fire towards Israel are expanding. It is clear that the Shiite terror organization has yet to reveal its most serious capabilities in terms of missiles and drones it can launch at Israel. Less than a week after Operation Pagers, and as the frequency of shelling in northern Israel and Lebanon increases, it seems that a full-scale war is approaching our doorstep.

Hezbollah is the strongest and wealthiest terror organization in the world, with an unimaginable number of munitions of Iranian, Russian, and Chinese origin. "Estimates speak of over 150,000 rockets and missiles, but it's important to emphasize that the information on which these estimates are based, including my own assessment, relies on open sources and not on intelligence information, so the margin of error is large," said Kalisky.

Now, let's break down the weapon arsenal by range.

"Let's start with the short range, where Hezbollah has Katyushas, Grads, anti-tank missiles, and rockets with which they bombard the northern area. Starting with Burkan rockets, effective for a range of 3-5 miles, through various types of missiles and rockets that reach varying ranges, and finally, the Katyushas, which reach about 25 miles. About 50 percent of all the weapons in Hezbollah's possession are effective for this range," meaning that according to estimates, we're talking about 75,000-80,000 munitions effective for the short range.

"In addition, Hezbollah has anti-tank missiles, Kornet and Almas, based on the Israeli Gill missile. The range of the Kornet is up to 3.4 miles, and the Almas is between 2.5 and 10 miles, depending on the model. "It's not known how many anti-tank missiles Hezbollah has," says Kalisky, "but these are not the missiles and rockets they fire en masse to the north; rather, they use them sparingly."

"The second group is medium-range munitions that mainly include Fajr 3 and 5 missiles," Kalisky continues, "like the one that hit Nazareth last Saturday, and they are effective for 47-50 miles, as well as Raad missiles that reach about 43 miles. The medium-range munitions constitute about 40 percent of Hezbollah's total ammunition," that is an order of magnitude of about 60,000. Last week, the Lebanese newspaper Al-Mayadeen, close to Hezbollah, reported that the terror organization has about 80,000 Fajr 3 and 5 missiles and Raad missiles, but the reliability of the channel is questionable.

The explosive payloads in those short- and medium-range munitions that Hezbollah holds are relatively small in most cases. "Anti-tank missiles have about 10-11 pounds of explosives, Katyushas have 44 pounds, Fajr 3 have 99 pounds, Raad 110 pounds, and Fajr 5 have 198 pounds," says Kalisky. "The exception is the Burkan rocket that can carry up to half a ton of explosives."

What do the estimates say about the number of Burkan rockets Hezbollah has?

"There are currently no accurate estimates for them specifically, but I don't think they have many. The Burkan is basically a kind of flying barrel bomb, and they use it to scare or take revenge, but it's not a weapon that will decide the war."

I understand. Let's go back to dividing Hezbollah's weapons arsenal by range.

"So we come to the third group – long-range weapons, which constitute about 10 percent of Hezbollah's total ammunition. The organization has missiles that reach 62 miles and threaten the entire area up to Hadera – the Khaibar missiles, and above them, the missiles that reach 124 miles – the Zelzal and Fateh 110, which is effective for 155-186 miles and can reach Beer Sheva and Dimona. They also have, I estimate, a single-digit number of Scud missiles of the C and D models that reach 310-435 miles. The Khaibar missiles carry 330 pounds of explosive payload, the Zelzal and Fateh – about half a ton, and the Scuds between half a ton to a ton."

What is the accuracy level of Hezbollah's munitions?

"All of Hezbollah's missiles and rockets are not precision weapons, but statistical – they don't have GPS, only a gyroscope (a device that helps maintain stability, direction, and speed), but this is not advanced technology. The Germans used it in World War II," says Kalisky.

"The exceptions are the Kornet, which is a laser-guided weapon, and the Fateh 110 ballistic missiles. The Fateh is a GPS-guided missile and they are accurate within a radius of 98 to 164 feet, very high accuracy relative to distances of hundreds of miles." The Fateh also carries a significantly heavier payload of about half a ton of explosives. A missile with such a level of accuracy poses a significant threat to densely populated civilian areas and large military targets located hundreds of miles from the border.

What damage can such a missile carrying half a ton of explosives do?

"When talking about damage, you need to take into account the specific missile carrying the explosive payload and its speed. Heavy ballistic missiles carrying half a ton of explosives and coming from above, from the atmosphere (they are fired outside the atmosphere and then start descending towards the target), gain tremendous speed and reach up to 10-15 times the speed of sound – creating shock waves, so the damage they cause is severe," says Kalisky. "In the Gulf War, such a missile hit one building on Yona Street in Ramat Gan and took down the entire street. The shock waves create a double and quadruple effect," he added. Last Thursday, 7 Burkan rockets were fired at Metula, which led to the complete destruction of houses, extensive fires, collapse of the electricity grid, and more.

What defense systems in Israel are not capable of intercepting?

"The Burkan and anti-tank missiles – the Kornet and Almas. This is because the firing range is very short, so they reach the target too quickly. In addition, the Iron Dome knows how to intercept missiles and rockets on a ballistic trajectory that rises and falls, while the anti-tank flies in direct alignment and at low altitudes, similar to the Burkan. In the future, when we have a laser cannon, we hope it will succeed in intercepting this type of munition as well because it will be able to reach the target at the speed of light."

When is the laser cannon expected to enter operational use?

"The official announcement from MAFAT (Directorate of Defense Research & Development) was that it is expected to enter at the end of 2025."

Safe Room Resilience

The obligation to install a safe room came in 1992, following the First Gulf War, meaning that in their original purpose, safe rooms were designed to protect their occupants from blast and shrapnel from ballistic missiles similar to those that came from Iraq. The safe room also withstands the scenario of a direct hit by a missile with a small explosive payload on the building – the vast majority of Hezbollah's ammunition, as mentioned.

However, the protection provided by the protected spaces is not perfect. A direct hit by a missile or rocket carrying large amounts of explosives like the Burkan, or missiles belonging to Hezbollah's long-range munitions group, can penetrate the safe room and even destroy it. During the Gulf War, a Scud missile managed to penetrate the shelter at Beit Dani in Tel Aviv. Hitting a safe room in a way that will succeed in penetrating it is a scenario with relatively low probability, but not impossible, subject to the location where the explosive payload meets the protected space and the energy generated by the impact, resulting from the type of munition and the speed at which it arrives, as Dr. Kalisky said above.

The missile that hit on Sunday in the front of a house in Kiryat Bialik significantly damaged the structure, caused the safe room window to be torn off and its glass to break, with the glass injuring one person who was sitting in the room, despite the family sealing the safe room door and window. During Operation Guardian of the Walls in 2021, a child, Ido Avigal, was killed as a result of a rocket fragment that penetrated through the safe room window where he was staying with his family. The window is the weakest point in the safe room, but despite this fact – there is no instruction from the Home Front Command to crouch below the window line when staying in it.

Last year, several manufacturers conducted a test with the participation of the Home Front Command designed to examine more resilient safe room windows so that they would be more resistant to impacts.

Anything you'd like to add in conclusion?

"In the end, we have defense systems that no other country in the world has," says Kalisky, "They consist of Iron Dome, David's Sling, Arrow 2, Arrow 3, fighter jets, and, thank God, the number of casualties is very small, with most of them not fatalities. Along with this, it's important to follow the Home Front Command's instructions. They save lives."

The post How accurate are Hezbollah's missiles and will safe rooms withstand them? appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Iran's aviation industry has been dealt a severe blow as several European nations announced they will no longer permit flights from Iran Air, the country's national carrier. This dramatic decision comes in the wake of Tehran's recent sale of ballistic missiles to Russia, further straining already tense relations between Iran and Western countries. The move is poised to significantly disrupt air travel between Europe and Iran, impacting millions of passengers annually.

On Wednesday, the aviation news site Simple Flying reported that France, Germany, and the United Kingdom will prohibit the airline from operating flights to their territories. This isn't the first time the airline has faced such restrictions; similar prohibitions were in place from 2010 to 2016 and briefly in 2020.

BREAKING: US sanctions Iran's flagship airline Iran Air, along with other people and entities accused of enabling the delivery of Iranian drones and missiles to Russia. pic.twitter.com/casuA82WMH

— Elizabeth Hagedorn (@ElizHagedorn) September 10, 2024

The report reveals that last year, roughly 1.8 million travelers flew between Europe and Iran (excluding Turkey). Iran Air held the distinction of being the carrier that operated the highest number of direct flights on routes connecting Iran with European destinations.

There's a possibility that this decision could extend to other member states of the European Union. Simple Flying suggests that Iran will likely retaliate by barring Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa from operating flights to its airspace.

The post European nations punish Iran Air appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

A Russian military blogger known as "Rybar" has reported that Israel conducted a test of a ballistic missile with a range exceeding 1,700 kilometers (1,056 miles). According to the blogger, whose reports primarily focus on the war in Ukraine, Israel launched the missile from the Palmachim base towards the Mediterranean Sea, striking a maritime area south of Italy's coast.

The blogger claimed that the missile's range is sufficient to cover most of Iran's territory. "Judging by the lack of media coverage and the distance of observation aircraft, it seems the Israelis were trying something serious," Rybar stated on his Telegram channel.

Rybar has previously been used by the Kremlin to disseminate information aligning with its positions. It is likely that Moscow is the source of the information the blogger is relaying, while ostensibly relying on open-source intelligence.

The test allegedly demonstrated Israel's capacity to strike targets at a distance that could potentially reach Iran. This development comes amidst ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran, with both countries viewing each other as significant security threats. Israel has never officially confirmed possession of long-range ballistic missiles capable of reaching Iran. The country maintains a policy of ambiguity regarding its military capabilities, particularly concerning its alleged nuclear arsenal.

The reported missile test, if confirmed, could be seen as a signal of Israel's deterrence capabilities against potential threats in the region. However, as of now, there has been no official comment from Israeli authorities regarding this alleged missile test. The lack of wider media coverage and the specific nature of the source raises questions about the veracity of the claim.

The post Israel reportedly conducts missile test capable of reaching Iran appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.