FT: Israel grapples with interceptor missile deficit

Israel is grappling with a significant shortage of interceptor missiles essential for bolstering its air defence system against potential ballistic missile attacks from Iran.

This alarming situation was reported by the Financial Times (FT), which cited various industry executives, former military officials, and analysts, per Caliber.Az.

According to these sources, Tel Aviv is confronting a pressing missile deficiency as it seeks to enhance its air defences in response to threats from Iran and its regional allies. Dana Stroul, a former U.S. Defence Department official responsible for Middle Eastern affairs, emphasized the seriousness of Israel's predicament regarding its missile capabilities.

Stroul stated, "If Iran responds to an Israeli attack [with massive airstrikes] and Hezbollah joins in, Israeli air defences will be stretched to the limit." She further noted that the United States is reaching a "tipping point" in its ability to supply military aid, indicating that it cannot sustain the same level of support for both Ukraine and Israel simultaneously.

In 2023, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan drew a parallel between Israel and the “naked king,” suggesting that Israel's actions could trigger a large-scale military conflict in the Middle East. This analogy was highlighted in the book "War" by American journalist Bob Woodward.

The book reveals that in October 2023, Israel was on the verge of launching a preemptive operation in southern Lebanon against the Shiite Hezbollah movement. A U.S. presidential aide quoted in the book stated, "We were on the cusp of a full-scale war in the Middle East that would essentially be instigated by Israel believing that Hezbollah was about to attack and they needed to act."

Sullivan reflected on the intense feeling among Israeli officials, saying, "The feeling that they were the naked king was so strong and deep. It was very painful. What they were thinking about most was, is something threatening the existence of their nation?"

By Tamilla Hasanova