Israel faces risk of lack of interceptor missiles
Experts warn that air defenses could be "stretched" if Iran responds to an expected Israeli retaliatory strike or if Hezbollah launches an all-out attack.
Israel is facing a risk of running out of interceptor missiles in its air defense system amid its year-long war with Gaza and Lebanon, and as it prepares for a possible escalation of conflict with Iran, a British source said on October 15.
Citing experts and former military officials, the Financial Times said Washington is helping the Jewish state address this issue, notably through its promise to send the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, but Jerusalem may increasingly find itself having to decide which targets it wants to prioritize protecting.
“Israel’s munitions problems are serious,” said Dana Stroul, a former US defense official. “If Iran responds to an Israeli attack, and Hezbollah joins in, it will stretch Israel’s air defenses.”
She added that supplies are not unlimited and Washington cannot maintain continuous supplies to both Ukraine and Israel at the same pace.
“Some of our lines are running 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” added Boaz Levy, CEO of Israel Aerospace Industries, which makes the interceptor. “Our goal is to meet all our commitments.”
Israel's multi-layered system includes the Iron Dome, used to shoot down short-range rockets; David's Sling, used to intercept medium-range rockets; and the Arrow system, designed to intercept long-range ballistic missiles.
According to Israeli military figures, more than 20,000 rockets and ballistic missiles have been fired at Israel from Gaza and Lebanon since Hamas launched its offensive on October 7 last year. The source added that the country’s air defense systems have succeeded in shooting down the majority of rockets headed for populated areas.
With the help of the US and regional allies, Israel has thwarted two missile attacks from Iran – one in April and a more intense attack in October when the Islamic Republic fired 180 ballistic missiles at the country.
Israel has vowed to respond to the October attack at a time and manner of its choosing, which could trigger a more forceful response from Tehran and its proxies.
According to former IDF general Assaf Orion, Israel has not been fully tested as Hezbollah in Lebanon, backed by Iran, has not yet fully developed its capabilities.
“They are only firing about a tenth of their estimated pre-war launch capacity, a few hundred missiles a day instead of the estimated 2,000,” Orion told the Financial Times. “Part of that is due to Hezbollah choosing not to go all out, and part of it is due to the IDF’s decline… But Hezbollah still has the capacity to mount a strong campaign.”
Hezbollah, which began attacking Israel daily after Hamas' offensive a year ago, has suffered a series of devastating security incidents in recent weeks, including the explosion of thousands of militants' communications equipment in an attack blamed on Israel, and Israeli airstrikes that killed the group's leadership.
Earlier this month, Israel launched a ground offensive in southern Lebanon to push Hezbollah back from the border, destroying its weapons depots and infrastructure, and to eliminate the threat of a similar move to the one Hamas launched last year from Gaza.