Recently, a sudden conflict shocked the entire Middle East region. On October 1, 2024, Iran launched a massive missile attack on Israel, an operation that not only upset the regional balance, but also stunned the world. Israel, which has always been known for its military strength, suffered such a heavy blow in this raid? This attack not only destroyed a number of important military bases in Israel, but also taught this Middle Eastern bully a hard lesson.
The causes of this conflict have to start from April this year. At that time, Iran had launched a smaller attack on Israel, mainly using drones and cruise missiles. But that operation had little effect, and was almost easily intercepted by Israel and its allies. The experience of this failure has left Iran with a painful understanding and determination to make a comeback in the next operation. Israel has recently launched frequent attacks on Iran and its allies, and even assassinated many of Iran's top military and political leaders. This series of actions has undoubtedly pushed Iran into a corner. As the so-called "dog jumps over the wall", Iran can be said to be holding back enough energy this time to teach Israel a harsh lesson.
On October 1, Iran finally couldn't hold back and launched a massive missile attack on Israel. The operation was a "big deal", with Iran launching 200 ballistic missiles in one go, including hypersonic missiles. These missiles flew into Israel in just 10 minutes at speeds of more than Mach 5. At this speed, even the "standard" missile systems of the US military are difficult to cope with, let alone the air defense system of Israel.
Iran's main targets this time are three important air bases in Israel, with Nevatim Air Base being the most important. This base is not ordinary, it not only has three runways, but also deploys a variety of high-value targets: two squadrons of C-130 tactical transport aircraft, a squadron of Boeing 707 tankers, and a squadron of Gulfstream G550 business jets. The most eye-catching thing is that there are also three of the Israel Air Force's most valuable squadrons of F-35I stealth fighters. You know, Israel only got a total of 27 F-35Is, and 24 were parked here, so to speak, "put all your eggs in one basket".
The effect of this attack can be described as striking. According to the analysis of follow-up satellite photos, at least 32 missiles successfully hit Nevatim airbase. Among them, 3 hit the hangar on the north side of the base, 1 hit the administrative building on the south side of the base, 1 hit the maintenance hangar on the south side of the base, 1 hit the administrative and maintenance building on the east side of the base, and 26 hit the desert clearing, road or taxiway. This level of precision is simply staggering.
Most surprisingly, Iran claimed that the attack destroyed as many as more than 20 F-35I fighter jets. While this number may be exaggerated, satellite photos do indicate that multiple hangars have been blown out of large holes. Considering that the F-35I's stealth coating is very delicate and is usually parked in concrete hangars, the attack is likely to have caused considerable damage to these expensive fighters.
There are also some strange places. The missile warhead used in this attack does not seem to be very powerful. The absence of mass destruction warheads such as submunitions, incendiary bombs, and ground-penetrating bombs limits the destructive power of the attack to some extent. Some have speculated that this may be Iran flexing its precision strike capabilities while not wanting to go too far and leave some room for maneuver on both sides.
The success of the attack was largely due to the lessons Iran learned in April. Last time, they mainly used drones and cruise missiles, flew slowly, and notified United States and Israel in advance, only to be hit as a live target. This time it was different, 200 ballistic missiles were fired at once, and the speed was so fast that even the US "Aegis" destroyers could only watch the missiles whizz overhead, and they were lonely.
This raid not only caused substantial losses to Israel, but also brought new variables to the military pattern of the entire Middle East region. Israel has always been a military power in the Middle East and is known as the "little bully of the Middle East". But such a devastating blow this time will undoubtedly shake its deterrent power in the region. It is also a wake-up call to other countries that in modern warfare, even the most powerful air defense systems can be broken through by saturation attacks.
The incident also exposed some problems with Israel's military deployment. Having a large number of high-value targets in one base undoubtedly increases the risk of being hit hard all at once. This practice of "putting all your eggs in one basket" may be reconsidered in the future.
Iran's missile attack on Israel can be said to have brought an earthquake to the military pattern in the Middle East. It not only demonstrated Iran's missile technology and precision strike capabilities, but also exposed the inadequacy of Israel's air defense system. The impact of this conflict is likely to continue for a long time to come, bringing new variables to the regional situation. As the saying goes, "soldiers are the major affairs of the country, the place of death and life, and the way of survival, and they must not be overlooked." This incident will undoubtedly bring profound enlightenment and reflection to the military strategies of various countries.