'Israel’s' air defenses are 'far from impregnable': FT
4 Min Read
The Financial Times reveals concerns surrounding "Israel's" ability to deter the anticipated response from Iran and Hezbollah.
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A screengrab from a video posted by the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon depicting the moment an Iron Dome missile launching platform was hit with an Almas Missile (Military Media of the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon)
A recent op-ed published by the Financial Times discusses the challenges the Israeli air defenses are facing, more so amid a growing arsenal of drones, missiles, and rockets the Islamic Republic of Iran possesses.
Amid anticipation of an Iranian response to the Israeli assassination of martyred Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Iranian soil, as well as the breach of its sovereignty and national security, "Israel" has been fortifying its air defenses.
However, Iran and its allies have spent decades developing a vast arsenal of rockets, missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which have proven to overwhelm Israeli air defenses.
In this regard, Israeli officials consider the upcoming response to test "Israel's" preparedness, which depends on the nature of Iran, Hezbollah, and their allies' retaliation, depicting it as the biggest test from an anticipated synchronized Iran-led attack.
Yaakov Lappin, an Israeli military analyst, like several other analysts, said the Israeli air defenses could be overwhelmed and defeated if the retaliation came in a joint response, consisting of a barrage of missiles, rockets, and drones, launched simultaneously at "Israel".
'Israel's' weak interception capabilities
According to the FT, the occupation's air defenses are "far from impregnable," as military experts continue highlighting how low-tech drones launched by Hezbollah in the current war have proven difficult to detect, track, and shoot down.
Slow-moving and agile drones have caused significant destruction across much of northern occupied Palestine, despite the efforts of the Iron Dome, Patriot batteries, and Israeli fighter jets to stop them.
Hezbollah has also sent reconnaissance drones deep into "Israel" to capture footage of sensitive military sites. Additionally, projectiles launched by Hezbollah travel a much shorter distance to reach "Israel" compared to missiles launched from Iran, thus cutting down the possible time for interception.
Tal Inbar, an Israeli political scientist for the missile defense alliance based in the United States, said that one of the major issues "Israel" has not adequately prepared for is Hezbollah's active targeting of its air defenses and detection systems.
Inbar warned that a massive simultaneous attack by Iran and its allies—coming from different directions and in various forms—would be difficult for Israeli systems to detect and track.
He stated that "the multiplicity of targets and coordinated fire from various arenas makes it difficult to create a 'picture of the sky,' affecting the ability to intercept them." He added, "The obvious assumption is that there will always be more attackers than interceptors."
'Israel' isolated, operating alone
On Thursday, Iran's acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani stressed that the Israeli regime does not have the "capacity nor strength" to engage in war against Iran.
"The Zionists are in no position to start a war against the Islamic Republic of Iran," he emphasized.
This also comes as "Israel" finds itself more isolated in the region, a situation that military analysts warn could increase its vulnerability, The Washington Post pointed out, adding that even with US support, there are growing concerns that Israeli air defense systems may struggle to repel a massive, coordinated attack.
The report highlighted that in April, Arab countries played down their involvement in repelling the Iranian attack, cautious of Tehran's retaliation and reluctant to appear aligned with "Israel" amid widespread public anger over the Palestinian casualties in the Gaza Strip.
Now, Arab states are also seeking to distance themselves publicly from any future interference.
Jordan and Saudi Arabia have explicitly stated they do not want their airspace to become a battlefield, while Egypt has declared it will not participate in a military axis to repel an Iranian attack.
These public declarations are "very disturbing," the newspaper quoted a senior Israeli politician who helped establish the regional coalition as saying.
Speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the issue, he noted that while Arab states within missile range are keen on containing Iran, their ties with "Israel" are fragile and have only been tested on a large scale once before.
Facing the prospect of all-out war, the politician admitted that "Israel is operating quite alone."
