Satellite imagery analyzed by researchers at Oregon State University suggests that Iranian missiles struck five Israeli military facilities during last month’s 12-day conflict, according to a report by the Telegraph.
The British newspaper said that six Iranian missiles hit targets located in the northern, central and southern regions of the Israeli occupied territories, including an intelligence-gathering center and a logistics base.
The findings were based on radar satellite data that identified blast damage consistent with missile strikes.
These strikes were previously undisclosed by Israeli military due to strict censorship laws. Israeli authorities have not publicly acknowledged the strikes, and the Israeli military declined to comment when contacted by the Telegraph, the newspaper said.
Military censorship laws in Israel restrict the publication of sensitive security information, particularly during active conflicts.
During the war, Israeli officials and the United States claimed that approximately 84% of the Iranian missiles were intercepted by Israeli and American air defense systems.
However, according to the Telegraph, data analysis indicates that a growing number of Iranian missiles successfully penetrated the much-vaunted air defenses during the first eight days of the conflict.
Analysts suggest this may have been due to factors including a limited supply of interceptor missiles, more sophisticated Iranian technology, or changes in attack strategy.
Iran employed coordinated drone and missile attacks to overwhelm Israel’s air defenses. The use of suicide drones even when intercepted served to confuse systems and allow more missiles to penetrate.
A senior Iranian official, quoted by the Telegraph who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the use of suicide drones in combination with missiles was a deliberate strategy aimed at overwhelming Israeli defenses.
“The main goal of firing drones is to keep their systems busy. Many don’t even get through – they’re intercepted – but they still cause confusion,” the official was quoted as saying.
On June 13, the Israeli regime launched an unlawful aggression against Iran, leading to the assassination of many senior commanders, nuclear scientists, and ordinary citizens.
Iran retaliated in less than 24 hours with a barrage of missiles and drones, and followed it up with a series of retaliatory operations under True Promise III.
The US entered the war on behalf of Israel on June 22, when its bombers hit three Iranian nuclear sites in brazen violation of international law.
In response, Iran launched a missile strike on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest US military air base in West Asia, in an act of self-defense.
The embattled Israeli regime was forced to unilaterally accept a truce deal on June 24.
