Israeli Defense Forces, IDF, Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari says 99% of the 300 or so projectiles fired by Iran at Israel overnight were intercepted by air defenses, The Times of Israel reports.
“This is a very significant strategic achievement,” he says in a morning press statement.
“The Iranian threat met the aerial and technological superiority of the IDF, combined with a strong fighting coalition, which together intercepted the vast majority of the threats,” Hagari says.
He says Iran launched 170 drones at Israel, and not one entered Israeli airspace. They were all downed outside of the country’s borders by Israel and its allies.
Another 30 cruise missiles were launched, and not a single one entered Israeli airspace, he says. According to Hagari, 25 of them were downed by the Israeli Air Force.
In addition, Hagari says Iran fired 120 ballistic missiles at Israel. Many of them were downed by the long-range Arrow air defense system, although some of the missiles managed to bypass Israel’s defenses, hitting the Nevatim Airbase in southern Israel.
Hagari says slight damage was caused to infrastructure at Nevatim, but the airbase is running as usual.
“As you can see now, the base is functioning and continues to perform its tasks. In the picture, you can see the runway at Nevatim,” he says, showing live footage from the airbase.
“Iran thought it would be able to paralyze the base and thus damage our air capabilities, but it failed. Air Force planes continue to take off and land from the base, and leave for offense and defense missions, including the Adir (F-35) planes that are now returning from a base defense mission and soon you will see them landing,” he says.
