A massive Iranian ballistic missile strike on targets in Israel launched on October 1 has 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 attack. Footage from Israel has confirmed the impact of dozens of ballistic missiles which Israel’s air defence network failed to shoot down, with targets impacted including the headquarters of the intelligence agency Mossad, located in Tel Aviv which was levelled 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 31. Iran was previously reported to have agreed not to retaliate if Israel deescalated hostilities, 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. 

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Israeli Air Force Personnel and F-35 at Nevatim Air Base

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Reports have indicated that the bulk of Nevatim Air Base’s F-35s – 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-35s 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 defence suppression features, making them optimal assets for such operations. The destruction of F-35s 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-35s 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.

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Iranian Ballistic Missiles Seconds Before Impact on Tel Aviv

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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 Defence 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 authorise attacks on Iranian oil refineries.

The Iranian strike has demonstrated the severe limitations of Israel’s air defence network, despite the country having by far the densest and most sophisticated network of any Western aligned actor – rivalled only by that of Taiwan. Israeli media outlets reported that Prime Minister 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-15s 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.

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Featured image: Israeli Air Force F-35s (Source: Military Watch Magazine)