TEL AVIV: Israeli media reported that the interception of hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones overnight has incurred a cost of approximately $1.35 billion (up to 5 billion shekels) for Tel Aviv.
Brig. Gen. Ram Aminach, former financial advisor to the Israeli chief of staff, was cited by the daily Yedioth Ahronoth on Sunday, stating that “the cost of defense last night was estimated at between 4-5 billion shekels ($1.08-1.35B).”
Aminach clarified, “I am only referring to the interception of what the Iranians launched and not the minor injuries this time.”
He elaborated on the expenses, mentioning that one ‘Arrow’ missile deployed to intercept an Iranian ballistic missile costs $3.5 million, while each ‘Magic Wand’ missile amounts to $1 million.
Additionally, the costs include expenses for aircraft sorties engaged in intercepting Iranian drones.
Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari, as reported by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz earlier on Sunday, disclosed that approximately 350 missiles and drones were launched from Iran at Israel, with the majority intercepted.
Hagari confirmed minor damage at the Nevatim air base in Beersheba and stated, “99 percent of the threats against Israel were intercepted.”
He detailed the interception success, noting that “25 out of 30 cruise missiles were intercepted, and of the more than 120 ballistic missiles, only a few penetrated Israeli territory and landed at the Nevatim air base.”
Hagari emphasized that “Iran’s attempt to undermine the capabilities of the Israeli Air Force has failed,” affirming the continued operation of the Nevatim base.
Furthermore, he mentioned launches from Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen, in addition to those from Iran.
The airborne attack conducted by Iran on Saturday was retaliation for an April 1 airstrike on its diplomatic facility in the Syrian capital, resulting in casualties among Iran’s Revolutionary Guard members, including two top generals.
While Iran claimed hits on certain military targets, Israel maintained that most attacks were thwarted by air defense systems, although a missile did strike a military base in the southern region.
