WSJ: Iran exploits vulnerabilities in Israel’s missile defence

Israel’s missile defence system, long considered one of the world’s most advanced, has shown signs of vulnerability during the recent 12-day conflict with Iran, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.

The report reveals that Iranian forces, through trial and error, managed to identify and exploit weaknesses in Israel’s multilayered missile defence network, which was developed in cooperation with the United States.

Early in the conflict, only about 8% of Iranian missiles successfully penetrated Israeli defences. However, this figure doubled to 16% in the latter half of the fighting, according to data from the Washington-based Jewish Institute for National Security of America.

Iran escalated its tactics by deploying more sophisticated, longer-range missiles, launching attacks from deeper within its territory and targeting a broader array of locations. The most significant strike took place on July 22, when 10 out of 27 missiles launched landed on Israeli soil.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) acknowledged a slight decrease in interception rates, reporting an 86% success rate compared to the previously cited 90–95%. Despite this decline, the IDF emphasised that its missile defence remains highly effective.

By Vugar Khalilov