By: Dylan Wadhwa

Opinion Editor

Commercial satellite images revealed the significant damage caused by a missile strike launched by Iran against Nevatim Air Base in southern Israel,. Researchers from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey identified over 30 impact points around the airbase.
These developments follow an escalation pattern steadily becoming more prominent recently. This marks the second time in six months that Iran has used missiles to directly attack an enemy. The missile launch was a clear response to Israel’s direct invasion of Iran’s closest ally, Hezbollah, in Lebanon a few days prior on October 2, 2024. 

The satellite images captured scenes of damaged buildings, roads, housing spaces, and even a crater in one of Nevatim’s runways. Israel’s military reported that the missile strike did not destroy any of its fighter jets and reassured the public that Nevatim Air Base continues to function normally. Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner, an Israeli military spokesperson, stated that despite the strike, “Our air force and air force bases remain operational” and emphasized that missile defenses intercepted many of the incoming missiles. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said that Iran launched around 180 ballistic missiles, but their defense systems, including the advanced Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 interceptors, managed to neutralize a significant number of them. Additionally, US naval forces played a role, firing a dozen interceptors to support Israel’s defenses.

After years of indirect conflict, Israel and Iran appear to be on the brink of a direct confrontation. For decades, both countries maintained a silent battle, with Israel carrying out cold operations targeting Iranian interests, while Iran relied on its regional allies such as Hezbollah to strike Israeli targets. However, in order to not upset Israeli allies such as the U.S., Iran has largely stayed out of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict aside from providing weapons to Palestinian forces. 

While this attack raised some questions about Iran’s missile abilities in battle, both countries are assessing the situation. Israeli officials are expected to look at how their defense systems performed and formulate adjustments to strengthen their defenses against future threats from regional enemies. Many analysts believe that Israel will come back with a force counterattack, hoping to potentially silence Iran’s role in the war and take a clear upper stance against Palestinian forces. 

The U.S. urged Israel to exercise caution, looking at the relatively small amount of damage caused by the most recent missile attack. In a statement, the White House announced that G7 leaders “unequivocally condemned Iran’s attack against Israel,” with President Biden reiterating America’s “full solidarity and support to Israel and its people.” However, Israeli officials mentioned their frustration with previous calls against aggression, especially after Iran’s attack in April on Syria, which many now believe was met with an overly cautious response.

While the U.S. continues to advise Israel to be more cautious about how their forces approach the war, only time will tell if Israel will be able to maintain the restraint that they’ve held for the past six months. 

(Sources: CNN, NBC, NPR, NY Times)