What We Know About the Damages from Iran's Missile Attack on Israel and the Nevatim Air Base

Satellite images of the Nevatim air base following the Islamic Republic of Iran's missile attack on Israel apparently show a large hole created in the roof of the aircraft hangar at the base. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched an attack on various locations in Israel on October 1 by firing 181 ballistic missiles of different models. This was the second direct military attack by Iran on Israel during 45 years of hostility between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Israel, and the Israeli Prime Minister stated hours after the attack that 'thanks to Israel's air defense system, the most advanced in the world, this attack was neutralized.' What we know so far about the damages and impacts of this attack: A hole in the roof of a hangar and a hole in the runway of Nevatim. According to the Associated Press and based on satellite images from Planet Labs over the Nevatim air base in southern Israel, damage to the roof of the hangar, debris fallen next to the structure, and a hole in the airport runway are visible. It is unclear whether the damages were caused by direct hits from ballistic missiles fired by Iran or by missiles fired from Israel's interception systems. The Israeli army has not yet responded to this news agency's request for comment, but an army spokesperson stated a day before the release of these images that the damages were mainly the result of Israeli interceptions. Daniel Hagari stated on October 2 at a press conference that some structures, storage centers, and 'administrative offices' at 'several air bases' sustained minor damage, but he did not specify their names. He also emphasized that 'no weapons or soldiers' were harmed and that the aircraft in the hangars are intact. Satellite images of the Nevatim air base in Israel after the Iranian missile attack. He also stated shortly after the Iranian attacks that the continuous activity of the Israeli Air Force was not interrupted and that aircraft would operate that night 'in the Middle East.' Aircraft that took off from the Nevatim base after the Iranian attack on Israel apparently carried out part of the Israeli army's missions that night against Dahieh and other points in Lebanon. Nevatim is the hangar for the Israeli Air Force's radar-evading F-35 fighter jets and is part of the second series of these advanced aircraft known as Lightning II. The history of the Nevatim base in the northern Negev desert dates back to 1958, but the modern version of the base was built in 1983 and has recently housed several squadrons of F-35 fighter jets. Benjamin Netanyahu and former Prime Minister Yair Lapid have repeatedly warned the Iranian government while standing next to F-35 fighter jets from this base, stating that these aircraft can reach any point in the Middle East, including Iran. This base also houses squadrons 103, 116, 117, 120, 122, and 131 of the Israeli Air Force, which operate other models of fighter jets and helicopters. Squadron 140 of this base, known as 'Golden Eagle,' operates F-35I fighter jets. The command of this base has been under Brigadier General Pilot Yotam Sigler since last summer. Iran announced in an operation known as 'Promise Fulfilled 2' that it attacked the 'Mossad headquarters' and three Israeli air bases. According to Haaretz, based on videos released on Israeli social media, in addition to several waves of missile attacks by the IRGC on the night of October 1 to hit the Nevatim air base, other attacks were also carried out that night near other air force bases and an area in northern Tel Aviv. The targeted area in northern Tel Aviv apparently was the Mossad headquarters, which Israelis refer to as the 'Galilout' area near the coastal city of Herzliya in northern Tel Aviv. A hole was created in a park in this area, which the local municipality filled the day after the attack under military supervision, and soldiers took away scattered missile parts. However, it was not clarified whether the hole in this park was caused by an Iranian missile or missiles fired from the 'Hatash 3' system. Western journalists visited this site and reported directly. Archive photo of a ballistic missile launch from the 'Hatash 3' system. Damage to 100 homes and the death of a Palestinian worker. The municipality of Hod Hasharon in central Israel reported that about 100 homes of Israeli citizens in this city were each damaged to some extent. This city, which is one of the strong cities in the Israeli economy and whose residents are upper-middle-class, is located in close proximity to the same 'Mossad headquarters.' The Israeli medical aid organization, 'Magen David Adom,' summarized the events of Tuesday night, stating that two Israeli civilians were lightly injured, which was also due to shrapnel from missiles fired from Israel's interception systems. The mayor of the Palestinian city of Jericho in the West Bank also reported that several missiles from the Iranian attacks hit the West Bank, resulting in the death of Samah Al-Asali, a 38-year-old Palestinian worker from Gaza who had moved to the village of Na'ima on the outskirts of Jericho after the Gaza war, while his family remained in Gaza. An Iranian missile struck him directly in the head as he walked through an alley in this village. In the April 14 attack by Iran on Israel, which involved 313 drones and missiles, a seven-year-old girl from the Muslim Bedouin Arabs in Israel was severely injured in the head and underwent surgery in an Israeli hospital, regaining her health after several weeks. Unlike the people of Israel, who went to shelters during the missile attacks on October 1, Palestinians in the West Bank poured onto rooftops and streets to watch the missiles. The administrative powers in the Palestinian territories in the West Bank are held by the self-governing authority, and therefore Israel has no obligation to create shelters for Palestinians in these areas, stating that their protection should be the responsibility of the self-governing authority.