(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – Israel reportedly had to expend US$1.5 billion (approximately RM7.1 billion) to counter a barrage of Iranian ballistic missiles and suicide drones yesterday.
In just one night, Israel spent billions to thwart these attacks from Iran.
According to Israel’s Yediot Ahronoth, a former financial advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Brig. Gen. Ram Aminach, stated that “defending Israel last night cost between 4-5 billion Shekel ($1.5 billion = RM7.1 billion).”
He further noted that this figure only covers the costs associated with intercepting Iranian ballistic missiles and drones.
This estimate does not include the expenses of deploying tens or hundreds of fighter jets to shoot down the missiles and drones while they were still in airspace.
Aminach revealed that one Arrow ballistic missile defense system costs approximately $3.5 million (RM16.7 million) per missile, while the Iron Dome air defense system costs about $1 million (RM4.5 million) per missile.
The Israeli military estimates that its defense systems, including the Arrow, Iron Dome, and David Sling, encountered around 300 Iranian missiles and drones.
Israel claims that its defense systems successfully intercepted about 99 percent of these threats.
However, Iran asserts that its ballistic missiles managed to evade Israelis multi-layered air defence system and targeted the Nevatim Military Base as well as Ramon Air Base, which house Israel’s F-35I Adir and F-16I Sufa fighter jets, located in the Negev Desert in southern Israel.
These air bases were primary targets in what Iran has named “Operation True Promise.”
Both Israeli Air Force bases reportedly played a crucial role in earlier this month’s missions where Israeli fighter jets bombed an Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria, killing seven Iranian military officers, including three generals.
Iranian media sources allege that at least 15 Iranian ballistic missiles struck the Nevatim Air Base in the Negev Desert, housing the state’s F-35I Adir fighter jets.
Local residents reportedly captured footage of the missile strikes.
The Nevatim Air Base, home to the “Golden Eagle Squadron,” operates the F-35I Adir jets and is located near the city of Be’er Sheva in the heart of the Negev Desert.
Meanwhile, Iranian sources claim that at least seven missiles targeted the Ramon Air Base, also in the Negev Desert.
The Israeli military acknowledges that the Ramon Air Base was hit by Iranian missiles but claims the damage was minimal. The base also hosts F-16I Sufa jets and AH-64D Apache attack helicopters.
Reports from Iran also indicate that missile and drone attacks targeted the Meron Military Base located at the summit of Mount Jarmak in northern Palestine, one of Israel’s most significant military bases.
The Meron base, operated by the 506th Air Force’s 11th Battalion, is described by observers as one of the most crucial facilities of the Israeli military, frequently used by senior military leaders to conduct operations.
This base is one of two that manage, monitor, and control air operations in Syria and Lebanon. — DSA