A massive Iranian ballistic missile strike on targets in Israel launched on October 1, 2024 targeted Nevatim Air Base, among other key targets in the country.
The facility hosts both of the Israeli Air Force’s F-35 fifth generation fighter squadrons, and was previously intended to host a third squadron of the fighters after they were delivered.
Iranian media sources have reported that the facility was completely destroyed in the hyper-sonic missile attack.
Footage from Israel has confirmed the impact of dozens of ballistic missiles which Israel’s air defense network failed to shoot down, with targets impacted including the headquarters of the intelligence agency Mossad, located in Tel Aviv which was leveled by the attack.
Labelled “True Promise 2,” the operation follows a year of escalating tensions between Tehran and Tel Aviv, and represents a long awaited retaliatory attack after an Israeli strike on Tehran on July 3, 2024.
Iran was previously reported to have agreed not to retaliate if Israel deescalated hostilities, but with Israel’s invasion and intensive bombardment of Lebanon and assassination of the leadership of the Iranian aligned militia group Hezbollah having been seen to have broken this agreement.
Reports have indicated that the bulk of Nevatim Air Base’s F-35’s – over 20 fighters – were destroyed in the attack, with the stealth fighters representing one of the most high value targets in Israel.
The facility has been widely referred to as Israel’s most important air base due to the importance of the F-35 in the country’s fleet.
Israel fields just two squadrons of the costly stealth jets, and relies on them heavily as the remainder of the fighter fleet relies on largely obsolete avionics and old mechanically scanned array radars.
F-35’s play a central role in Israeli plans for potential attacks on Iran, with their stealth capabilities and advanced avionics, including electronic warfare systems and other air defense suppression features, making them optimal assets for such operations.
The destruction of F-35’s is thus an important step towards limiting Israel’s ability to respond with further escalation.
Although Israel has a third squadron’s worth of F-35’s on order, significant issues with production, which remains at a fraction of initially planned rates, has resulted in a very long delivery queue, and means Israel will only begin to receive the newly ordered fighters from 2028.
Israeli and Western officials have widely stressed the need for a strong response against Iran, with White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stating:
There will be serious consequences for Iran as a result of this attack and we will work with Israel to make sure that happens.
The Israel Defense Forces announced that its response will be seen by the entire Middle East, with Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz stating that the entire free world had to support Israel – a reference to expected Western support for future Israeli attacks.
The influential U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham meanwhile called on President Joe Biden to authorize attacks on Iranian oil refineries.
The Iranian strike has demonstrated the severe limitations of Israel’s air defense network, despite the country having by far the densest and most sophisticated network of any Western aligned actor – rivaled only by that of Taiwan.
Israeli media outlets reported that PM Benjamin Netanyahu and a number of ministers were forced to remain in a fortified underground location in Jerusalem for hours during the attack, with Western correspondents reporting that massive explosions could be felt across Tel Aviv.
The current state of the Israeli fighter fleet remains highly uncertain, and alongside the reported destruction of Nevatim Air Base, other fighter losses have been reported including losses of F-15’s at Hatzerim Air Base.
Previous minor losses were also reported, but not confirmed, after intensified Hezbollah rocket artillery and drone strikes on facilities such as Ramat David Air Base.
Military Watch Magazine / ABC Flash Point News 2024.
So Israel lost its defense capabilities, its Mossad headquarters and the most advanced air-force base including F-35 fighters jets!
Get a grip, your medication is on the way.
The political Israel does not resemble the biblical and spiritual Israel, its not about the land, its about learning the world of God. Iran plays a pivotal role in the rise and fall of nations. The Book of Esther and Prophecies of Daniel are ventral to the understanding of the development of the spiritual Israel.
Iran has stated that if Israel retaliates Iran will reply with an even heavier retaliation — Israel & the USA are working out where to hit Iran and Biden has said that the USA will give a financial reward to Israel if they don’t attack Iran.
Considering the survivors of the last storm in the USA are having trouble with the government help provided and financial compensation you wonder if Israeli citizens are of a higher importance than the USA,s own citizens.
For sure Israel is more important, tax payers have no more benefits in western countries these days?
It surely looks that way !
Now Yemen is filling in the spots to force Israel to stop killing innocent rounded up civilians anywhere in the world
Operation True Promise III on the way !
Israel will destroy all borderline countries around it, so it can continue confiscating land in order to create the Greater Israel map.
What is it that Israel wants? Create the Greater Israel, compromising all the Arab nations bordering it?