Iran's Attacks Breach Israeli Air Defenses Amidst Rising Casualties

A violent confrontation between Israel and Iran entered its sixth day, marked by intense aerial attacks from both sides. The conflict began with Israeli strikes targeting nuclear sites and the capital city of Tehran. Israel claims Iran is secretly developing nuclear weapons, a claim Iran denies.

Since the conflict began, authorities report at least 224 fatalities in Iran and 24 in Israel. However, Iran has not consistently updated its death toll, and a Washington-based group estimates the death toll to be significantly higher.

Israel utilizes a multi-layered air defense system. The Iron Dome is a surface-to-air missile system designed to intercept projectiles headed towards populated areas. Other systems include the US-made Thaad, David’s Sling, and the Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 defenses.

Israeli officials acknowledge that their air defense systems are not completely impenetrable. The Iron Dome, designed to target shorter-range rockets, is the most well-known. David’s Sling targets longer-range rockets, while Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 are designed for ballistic missiles. The Thaad battery, a recent addition, intercepts missiles inside and outside the Earth’s atmosphere.

Experts suggest that the effectiveness of Israel's air defenses may be overstated. The sustained nature of Iran's attacks, exceeding those of recent years, has allowed some missiles and drones to penetrate the defenses. Iran's strategy may involve launching a large number of projectiles to overwhelm the interceptors.

Iran may have employed hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs), which are difficult to intercept due to their maneuverability and speed. These vehicles can alter their flight paths, making interception more challenging.

While the Iron Dome's defense rates are impressive, the system has primarily faced smaller-scale attacks with predictable trajectories. Iran's Revolutionary Guards claim to have used a new method to disrupt Israel's defenses, potentially involving decoy drones or electronic warfare to suppress radar. The sheer volume of Iranian missiles has also contributed to the breaches, overwhelming the defenses.