Israel's Bill for Intercepting Iranian Attack Approaches $1.3 Billion
Israel incurred significant financial costs while defending against an Iranian missile and drone attack, with estimates ranging between 4 to 5 billion shekels ($1.08-1.35 billion), as reported by Brig. Gen. Ram Aminach, a former financial advisor to the Israeli chief of staff. The expenditures were attributed to the deployment of advanced defense systems, including the Arrow system for ballistic missiles, costing $3.5 million per missile, and the David’s Sling missile system, at $1 million per missile, along with the operational costs of fighter jets.
Israeli military forces successfully intercepted approximately 99% of the 350 missiles and drones launched by Iran, with only a few ballistic missiles reaching Israeli territory, including minor damage to the Nevatim Airbase in southern Israel. The attack, which resulted in injuries to at least 12 people, was a response to an April 1 airstrike on Iran's diplomatic facility in Damascus that killed at least seven members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
In light of the attack and the defense costs, Aminach has called for an increase in Israel's defense budget to ensure continued protection against such threats. The incident has highlighted the stark financial disparity between the cost of offensive operations by Iran and the defensive measures required by Israel, with Iran's expenditure for the assault estimated to be less than 10 percent of what Israel spent to counter it.
