The Jewish Policy Center stands, as ever, with the people
of Israel in support of the legitimacy and security of the Jewish
State.
We reiterate as well that the Iranian government is the fulcrum of
hatred and destruction in the region. From Iran itself through the Red
Sea and across Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and, increasingly
Jordan and Judea and Samaria, Iran venerates, funds, and promotes
violence against Israel and against Sunni Arab communities.
Details remain to be uncovered, and plans for the future laid out,
but for now, there is actually some good news. The resilience of the
Israeli people and the brilliance of Israel’s defense establishment
and industries are awe inspiring. Missile Defense works. Not too long
ago, President Ronald Reagan’s idea to “hit a bullet with a bullet”
was mocked, but President Reagan and Israel get the last laugh.
Israeli engineers, scientists, and military minds, supported by the
civilian government, delivered a magnificent response to a malevolent
attack.
Israel’s partners deserve praise. The United States was where it
always should be – at Israel’s side. Although Sen. Chuck Schumer and
Senate Democrats have a job to finish. The UK and France, vocal
opponents of the Israeli government in recent months, responded as
allies. And best of all, Jordan and Saudi Arabia participated in
Israel’s defense. There is hope for the region in their choices and
the Iranians can take no comfort from that.
We are grateful at many levels.
The article below is an early look at who, what and how. We hope it
helps to clarify the battle. With our thanks to Stephen Bryen of “Weapons
and Strategy” on Substack.
Preliminary Results of
Iran's Attack on Israel: It was Largely a Failure
The response
of Saudi Arabia and Jordan was a huge breakthrough: it is the first
time Arab countries participated in defending
Israel.
Here are the
preliminary results from the Iranian attacks last
night:
-
170 Kamikaze Drones were
fired. None
entered Israeli territory. At least one appears to have landed in
Iran.
-
30 Cruise Missiles were fired; 25
were shot down outside of Israeli territory.
-
103 out of 110 Ballistic
Missiles were shot down; 7 Ballistic Missile impacts were recorded on Israeli
territory
The
ballistic missiles that got through hit the Israeli air base at
Nevatim but did not do significant damage. The base
remains fully operational.
There are no
other reports on damage yet, but a 10-year-old girl was seriously wounded in
a strike in the south.
Israel used its F-35s, F15s and F16s
aircraft
to intercept
drones, along with Iron Dome, David's
Sling, and Arrow I and II.
Israel was
assisted by the US Air Force and Navy, and by Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
Jordan used its F-16s and air defenses. There is no report yet from Saudi
Arabia.
Israel hit a
Hezbollah weapons manufacturing facility in southern Lebanon. This
was in response to a Hezbollah missile attack on an Israeli base in
Israel’s north.
So far (7:00
AM) there is no word of any counterstrikeon Iran by Israel.
Reports say
that any such strike will be coordinated with the US. For
inexplicable reasons, President Joe Biden (who is backing
Israel, but
opposes Israeli retaliation) wants an emergency G-7 meeting, even though the
G-7 is an economic, not a military organization.
I think it
is fair to say that the Iranian attack was largely a failure and that
Israel's and allied air defenses performed very well. The number of
missiles fired at Israel exceeds anything we have seen so far in
Ukraine where even large scale attacks rarely exceed twenty of thirty drones
and missiles.
The Iranians
did not knock out any of the air defenses protecting
Israel.
The response
of Saudi Arabia and Jordan was a huge breakthrough: it is the first
time Arab countries participated in defending Israel. This is a huge
blow to Iran which is seeking to subvert both
countries.
At the
present time I do not know of any casualtiesother than the child in the
south.
Israelis were ordered into bomb shelters, airports and other transit
were closed down, etc. Today Israel resumed commercial air
traffic and
– if you look – you will se Israelis out in the streets doing what
they normally do.
There is
still much more to learn.
Stephen
Bryen is a former Deputy Undersecretary of
Defense.