The Cost of Defending Against Iranian Strikes

My post "Finally, Iran Retaliates" published yesterday refers. Israel may have claimed 99% success in defending itself against Saturday’s drone and missile barrages by Iran – but that effort reportedly came at a high price. 

 

The interceptors, jet fuel and other materials expended in shooting down Iran’s unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and missiles cost about 4 billion to 5 billion shekels ($1.06 billion to $1.33 billion), Israeli Brigadier General Reem Aminoach told local media outlet Ynet News on Sunday. The estimate included only Israel’s direct costs, not counting the considerable weaponry used by the US and other allies in helping to defend against the attack. 

 

Aminoach, formerly the financial adviser to the IDF chief of staff, said Israel used such munitions as Arrow and David’s Sling interceptor missiles, which have per-unit costs of about $3.5 million and $1 million, respectively. He also included sortie expenses for the fighter jets that did the bulk of the work in shooting down Iranian drones.

 

He also lamented that it was far cheaper for Iran to launch the attack than for Israel to defend itself. 

 

“The attack cost Iran less than 10% of what it cost us to defend against it”, he told Ynet. “In the future – in a year, two years, or five years – they can carry out 50 such attacks. And let’s say that if the IDF’s net budget in 2023 was 60 billion shekels, with less than double that you have no chance of reaching a situation where we can maintain the required amounts”. 

 

Iran’s attack involved at least 170 drones, 120 ballistic missiles, and more than 30 cruise missiles, according to a report by The Associated Press news agency.

 

And if you believe the Israelis, the country escaped unscathed. More or less. Save for a 10-year-old Bedouin Israeli girl who suffered a shrapnel wound when she was hit while sleeping at her home in southern Israel. And “only minor damage to infrastructure” at the Nevatim Airbase (this is the Israeli airbase that is home to the F-35 fighters that attacked the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria). Hallelujah, it is a miracle! 😂😂

 

An Al Jazeera report had asserted that the vast majority of the projectiles were intercepted outside the country’s borders with help from the US, UK and France. Jordan betrayed the Palestinians when the Hashemite Kingdom also shot down some of the missiles aimed at Israel as they flew through Jordanian airspace.

 

According to the Wall Street Journal, citing sources, two other Arab nations – Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates – exchanged intelligence with the US and Israel, which contributed to their success in repelling the Iranian attack. 

 

The American lapdogs have exposed themselves – Iran should be wary!

 

And lsrael has been warned against any response. The chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces, Major General Mohammad Bagheri (left) said on state TV that if Israel retaliates, Iran’s response would be “much larger” than the overnight bombardment, according to a report by the Reuters news agency. 

 

Iran also pointedly told Washington that backing Israeli retaliation would lead to the targeting of US bases. 

 

Earlier, Iran’s mission to the United Nations cited the UN Charter’s provision for self-defence under Article 51 and said the country considered “the matter… concluded”.

 

Let's see if Israel will respond!