Israel has been assessing the damage caused by Iran’s massive 180-rocket missile attack on Tuesday night after its air defence intercepted most of the projectiles.
Meanwhile, Israeli residents were seen near the fragments of an Iranian missile that was intercepted near Arad, with some of them climbing the debris and taking photos with rocket remnants.
“Thanks to proper civilian behaviour and high-quality defence, the damage is relatively small,” IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said.
“We will respond, we know how to locate important targets, we know how to strike accurately and powerfully,” he added.
Despite the interceptions, Iran claims most of its missiles hit their targets, which included three military bases in Tel Aviv.
The IDF has acknowledged that some military air bases were struck by rockets, including the Nevatim air base, home to the Israeli Air Force’s most advanced aircraft.
Satellite images of Nevatim Air Base showed damage to the roofs of a row of buildings near the main runway, and large pieces of debris can be seen spread around the buildings.
It is not clear from the satellite imagery whether any aircraft were in the hangar when it was struck.
However, the Israeli military reports there was no damage caused to fighter jets, drones, munitions or critical infrastructure and says the damage caused to any air bases was “ineffective”.
It added the strikes had not caused harm to the functioning of the Israeli Air Force or its operations.
A school in the central Israeli city of Hod Hasharon was also partially damaged by an Iranian missile.
Israel’s medical services have reported that no fatalities or major injuries were caused in Iran’s attack, with only a couple of citizens sustaining minor wounds in Tel Aviv.
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Iran said the barrage was retaliation for a series of devastating blows Israel has landed in recent weeks against the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, which has been firing rockets into Israel since the war in Gaza began.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed late Tuesday to retaliate against Iran’s attack, and an Iranian commander has threatened wider strikes on infrastructure if Israel does so.
