Iran’s Ballistic Missile Attack on Israel
Iran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles against Israel on October 1, 2024, as tensions between the two countries escalated. The attack involved approximately 180 missiles, with a significant portion intercepted by Israeli and U.S. defenses.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards stated that the attack was in response to Israel’s recent strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, and warned that any Israeli retaliation would be met with an even more severe response.
The missiles used in the attack were primarily versions of the Shahab-3 ballistic missile, which has been in service since 2003 and can carry warheads weighing between 760 to 1,000 kilograms. There was no indication that Iran deployed a new, hypersonic missile like the Fattah-1 during this attack, despite some reports suggesting its potential use.
The effectiveness of the missiles was largely mitigated by Israel’s advanced air defense systems, including the David’s Sling, Arrow 2, and Arrow 3 systems, which have been jointly developed with the United States. Jordan’s air force also reportedly intercepted some Iranian missiles during the attack.
