After Iranian missiles hit base, Gallant says attack didn’t even ‘scratch’ air force
Defense minister visits pilots at targeted airbase, says damage in Gaza and Beirut should be a message to those who think Israel won’t respond to assaults
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Sunday that last week’s Iranian ballistic missile attack “didn’t even scratch” the Israeli Air Force’s capabilities, and vowed that Israel would not be deterred from responding to such attacks by its enemies.
During a visit to Nevatim Airbase, which suffered damage during the attack, Gallant said Israel would choose the manner and time of its response, and that this should be taken not just as a statement of intent, but as a working plan, according to a statement from his office.
“The Iranians have not even scratched the capabilities of the Air Force. Not a single squadron has been damaged, not a single plane has been damaged, there is not a single runway that is not available for takeoff, and there is no damage to our continuity,” he said speaking with with pilots, air crews and ground crews.
The approximately 200 ballistic missiles launched Tuesday caused some damage in Israel, including in Israeli airbases. The military has said that no aircraft or critical infrastructure were hit, and the Israeli Air Force is operating at full capacity.
Most of the incoming missiles were either intercepted by air defenses or landed in open areas. However, the attack sent 10 million Israelis rushing for cover and caused damage to civilian structures as well, including a school.
“Whoever thinks that by trying to attack Israel he will deter us from reacting, should look at what is happening in Gaza and what is happening in Beirut — things are very clear,” Gallant said referring to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip and the intense Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in the Lebanese capital.
“We are strong both in defense and attack and we will express it in the way we choose, at the time we choose, in the place we choose, and these things are for us… not just a statement… but a work plan,” he declared.
Gallant’s remarks came the day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel has a “duty and a right” to respond to the Iranian assault.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the missiles were fired to avenge the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Iranian general Abbas Nilforoushan in a September 27 IAF strike on Beirut. The Hezbollah terror group is an Iranian proxy. The IRGC also said the attack was meant to avenge the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran in an explosion for which Israel has not claimed responsibility.
As Israeli leaders repeatedly vow to retaliate for the Tuesday evening missiles, Iran has prepared a plan to respond to a possible Israeli attack, local Iranian media reported.
“The plan for the necessary response to a possible action by the Zionists has been fully prepared,” Tasnim news agency said Sunday, quoting “an informed source” in the armed forces.
“If Israel takes action, there will be no doubt that an Iranian counterattack will be carried out,” said Tasnim.
It added that Iran “has a list of many Israeli targets,” and said Iran’s attack on Tuesday “showed that it can level to the ground any place it desires.”
In April, the Islamic Republic fired some 300 missiles and drones at Israel, after an airstrike killed several Iranian generals in Damascus. Though Israel’s alleged response to that attack was restrained, analysts told media outlets Wednesday that Israel is likely to be more aggressive this time around.
This time, however, Israel is said to be considering hitting strategic infrastructure, such as gas or oil facilities, or directly targeting Iran’s nuclear sites, officials have told media.
United States CENTCOM chief Gen. Michael Kurilla landed in Israel on Saturday evening to meet with Israeli defense and military officials, amid preparations in the IDF for the response.
Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad visited an oil facility on Kharg Island on Sunday and met with employees, his ministry’s news agency, SHANA, reported.
“We are not afraid that our enemies will ignite a crisis, and visiting the region is a normal business trip,” Paknejad said on state television.
Kharg Island, located in the Gulf, is home to Iran’s largest crude oil export terminal.
On Saturday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned of a “proportional and similar reaction from Iran, and even stronger” if Israel attacks.
US President Joe Biden on Friday advised Israel against targeting oil sites in Iran, one of the world’s 10 largest oil producers.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has decorated the Revolutionary Guard’s aerospace commander for the Islamic Republic’s missile attacks on Israel, the ayatollah’s website said.
“Ayatollah Khamenei presented the Order of Fath to General Amirali Hajizadeh, commander of the Guards Aerospace Force,” it said. “Fath” is Farsi for “courage.”
The decoration was bestowed because of “the brilliant ‘Honest Promise’ operation,” the website said, referring to Tuesday’s largely unsuccessful ballistic missile attack on Israel.
War erupted on October 7 between Israel and Hamas when the Palestinian terror group led a devastating cross-border attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip that killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Israel responded with a military campaign to destroy Hamas and save hundreds of people who were taken as hostage to Gaza.
Since October 8, Hezbollah-led forces have attacked Israeli communities and military posts along the border on a near-daily basis, with the group saying it is doing so to support Gaza amid the war there.
The fighting in the north has escalated in recent weeks, with Israeli airstrikes accompanied by what Israel says is a limited ground incursion into Lebanon aimed at pushing Hezbollah fighters away from the northern border, in order to allow tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis to return to their homes safely.