Fewer missiles overnight appear to come with shorter warnings, no pre-launch alert

The Home Front Command gave much shorter early warnings for Iran’s overnight ballistic missile attacks than it had previously, possibly due to the relatively small number of missiles fired.

Iran launched fewer than 10 missiles total in three separate attacks — just after midnight, at 3:30 a.m., and 4:30 a.m. — but in each case, the Home Front Command issued an alert to civilians just 2-3 minutes before the actual sirens sounded.

Normally, the IDF issues an early warning around 10 minutes before sirens sound, as missiles are detected being launched.

Additionally, the Home Front Command did not issue a pre-launch alert calling on civilians in areas potentially under threat to be prepared to head to a bomb shelter in any of the overnight attacks. The Home Front Command has said it seeks to issue this alert 15-30 minutes before an attack is launched.

The shorter early warning and lack of preliminary alert are thought to be tied to the fact that Iran launched far fewer missiles overnight than it had previously, likely making it harder to detect the launch or pre-launch preparations than when barrages comprise dozens of missiles.