An American source has issued a stark warning that Iran possesses sufficient stockpiles of advanced drones and ballistic missiles that could evade or overwhelm Israel's vaunted Iron Dome air defense system.
According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, Israel is bracing for a potential coordinated assault from Iran and its allies – including Hezbollah in Lebanon and possibly the Houthis of northern Yemen. A massive assault could test the country's air defense capabilities beyond the limits of the Iron Dome.
While the Iron Dome, developed by the United States and Israel, remains a leading system for intercepting short-range rockets, it has faced challenges in neutralizing threats from various resistance groups. The system is not designed to intercept many of Iran’s advanced drones and ballistic missiles.
Brig. Gen. Kioumars Heydari, Commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Forces, highlighted recent advancements and successes of Iran's military. He noted that the Ground Forces have made substantial progress in recent years and are stationed along the country's borders to ensure enduring security for Iran. (Related: Iranian analyst warns of harsher response to Haniyeh’s killing than previous strike on Israel.)
Heydari further revealed that the Ground Forces are on the verge of unveiling cutting-edge anti-armor missiles, underscoring their growing prowess on the international stage.
Mass strike on Israel could overwhelm the Iron Dome
In a speech on June 19, Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, warned that a full-scale war could put all of Israel at risk, asserting that "no place will be safe from our missiles and drones." Tensions are escalating along Israel's border with Lebanon, as Israeli forces clash with Hezbollah militia.
The Iron Dome, Israel's advanced air defense system, is tasked with intercepting these threats. Despite its success in shooting down thousands of missiles and protecting Israeli cities during recent conflicts, experts caution that Hezbollah’s arsenal might challenge its limits.
Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has been intensifying attacks with explosive drones and low-flying missiles that the Iron Dome struggles to intercept.
Recently, Hezbollah released a 10-minute surveillance video captured by a drone that evaded several Iron Dome interceptors, including footage of a secure facility belonging to Rafael, the company that manufactures the missile defense system.
Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, warns that Hezbollah's arsenal could overwhelm the Iron Dome.
Hezbollah is believed to possess a substantial stockpile of precision-guided weapons. Karako points out, “There are not enough Iron Domes in the world to contend with the reported 100,000 or so rockets that Hezbollah may have.”
The Iron Dome, deployed since 2011, features a radar system, targeting computer and interceptor missiles. It detects incoming rockets, calculates their trajectory, and launches interceptors only if the rockets threaten populated areas.
Despite its impressive more-than-90 percent success rate, some experts believe the system struggles with Hezbollah’s tactics, including anti-tank missiles and suicide drones made from radar-absorbing materials.
Zvika Haimovich, a retired brigadier general who oversaw Israeli air defenses, notes that a conflict with Hezbollah would differ greatly from previous engagements with Gaza, citing Hezbollah’s superior arsenal.
Fabian Hinz from the International Institute for Strategic Studies estimates Hezbollah’s stockpile could include up to 200,000 rockets, with a significant portion being precision-guided.
The challenge is compounded by the fact that Israel's stockpile of interceptor missiles is not unlimited.
"Air defense buys time – buys decision-makers time to end the conflict by other means,” warned Karako. “But just because you buy time doesn’t guarantee that decision-makers will make good decisions."
Watch this episode of "The Pete Santilli Show" discussing the imminent attack on Israel by Iran and Hezbollah.
This video is from the channel The Resistance 1776 on Brighteon.com.
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U.S. on high alert as Iran’s proxies threaten retaliation following Israeli strikes.
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