Iranian ballistic missiles hit five Israeli military bases during war: report

Iran’s ballistic missiles successfully targeted five Israeli military bases during the 12-day war last month.

According to a report by the British newspaper The Telegraph published on Saturday, this information was revealed for the first time based on satellite data provided by Oregon State University.

Details of attacks on Israel Defense Forces (IDF) bases and other sensitive sites are prevented from being published in Israel under military censorship laws, as authorities believe such information could help Iran better target its missiles.

However, according to The Telegraph, the sites targeted included Tel Nof Air Base, the Gelilot Intelligence Base, and the Zipporah weapons and armored vehicle manufacturing facility.

The report was based on radar data provided by Oregon State University, which monitors the effects of bombing in war zones via satellite.

During the war—which Israel launched on June 13 with the stated objective of destroying Iran’s nuclear and missile programs—six missiles hit five military bases within Israel.

The report further stated that 36 other missiles fired by Iran also landed within Israeli territory, evading both Israeli and American air defense systems. These attacks resulted in 28 deaths, damage to 2,305 homes, destruction to 240 buildings, two universities, and a hospital, and displacement of more than 13,000 people.

In total, Iran launched more than 500 ballistic missiles at Israel during the 12-day war. Moreover, Iran deployed approximately 1,100 drones, of which only one crashed within Israeli territory.

Although overall the air defense systems achieved a high interception success rate, the report noted that during the first eight days of the war, the number of missiles successfully evading interception increased each day.

The Telegraph said that by the seventh day of the conflict, approximately 16 percent of the missiles were bypassing Israeli and American defense systems.

The report noted that the reasons for this decline were unclear, though it suggested that Israel may have been conserving its interceptor missiles for higher-priority targets.

The Wall Street Journal had reported during the war that Israel was running low on Arrow interceptor missiles and was being forced to decide which incoming missiles to target and which to let through. However, the IDF denied this report and said it had prepared in advance.

The Telegraph also said that a change in the nature of the missiles could be a contributing factor, with Iran possibly deploying newer and more advanced missile technologies that are harder to intercept.

On June 19, in a confirmed incident, Iran used a cluster bomb warhead that scattered 20 small explosive devices over an 8-kilometer radius. One of these, weighing approximately 2.5 kilograms, struck a house in the central city of Azur and caused damage comparable to a small rocket.

When The Telegraph asked the Israeli military about the attacks on these military installations, the IDF declined to comment.

A spokesperson stated, “We can confirm that all relevant units fully continued their duties during the operation.”

Israel said that its large-scale attack on Iran’s senior military leadership, nuclear scientists, uranium enrichment facilities, and ballistic missile program was necessary to counter Iran’s clear intent to destroy the Jewish state.

Iran has repeatedly denied seeking nuclear weapons; however, it has enriched uranium to levels that have no peaceful application, barred international inspectors from accessing its facilities, and expanded its ballistic missile program.