Iran's attack on Israel: 90% hit or 90% blocked? How many missiles reached targets

Iran and Israel have both claimed success regarding Tuesday’s ballistic missile attack.

After Iran fired around 180 ballistic missiles at Israel, it said that 90 per cent of the missiles hit their intended targets successfully.

On the other hand, Israel and its principal ally the United States have said that most of the missiles were successfully intercepted and only a small number of missiles made it past the multi-layered Israeli air defence system and interception efforts of a defensive coalition led by the United States.

Here is what we know about the claims and counter-claims regarding the Iranian attack on Israel.

As Iran’s claims success, US-Israel say attack ineffective & defeated

The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) of Iran, the military and intelligence force directly under the Supreme Leader’s command, said on Tuesday that 90 per cent of the missiles had hit their targets successfully in Israel.

Separately, Iranian military chief General Mohammad Bagheri said that the missiles targeted Israeli military bases in Nevatim, Hatzerim, and Tel Nof, and spy agency Mossad’s headquarters in Tel Aviv. He added that Iran deliberately did not attack civilian areas and infrastructure.

The IRGC added that the attack was in response to the assassinations of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in July and Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah last week.

On the other hand, Israel and the United States said that most of the missiles were intercepted and only a small number of projectiles made it through.

There were a small number of hits in central hits and some other hits in southern Israel, but the majority of the incoming missiles were intercepted by Israel and the US-led defensive coalition, said Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari.

Separately, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan described the Iranian attack as “defeated and ineffective”.

“The United States military coordinated closely with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to help defend Israel against this attack. US naval destroyers joined Israeli air defense units in firing interceptors to shoot down inbound missiles,” said Sullivan in a press conference at the White House.

Iran & US-Israel trade warnings of consequences

Even as Iran launched what the Israel and United States dubbed as grave escalation, Iran dubbed it as an act of self-defence.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said that the Iranian actions were in line with the United Nations (UN) charter.

Iran exercised self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter, targeting solely military and security sites waging “genocide in Gaza and Lebanon”, said Araghchi.

The Article 51 of the UN Charter allows a nation “individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations”.

Araghchi further said that the Iran has concluded its attack but warned that it would respond forcefully if Israel responded with an attack of its own.

“Our action is concluded unless Israeli regime decides to invite further retaliation. In that scenario, our response will be stronger and more powerful. Israel’s enablers now have a heightened responsibility to rein in the warmongers in Tel Aviv instead of getting involved in their folly,” said Araghchi.

Both Israel and the United States assured severe consequences for Iran over the attack. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran had a grave mistake and would pay for it.

“This evening, Iran made a big mistake – and it will pay for it. The regime in Tehran does not understand our determination to defend ourselves and to exact a price from our enemies…We will keep to the rule we have determined: Whoever attacks us – we attack them,” said Netanyahu.

US NSA Sullivan also assured there will be severe consequences for Iran.

“We have made clear that there will be consequences —severe consequences— for this attack, and we will work with Israel to make that the case,” said Sullivan.