Many Iranian missiles either failed to launch or crashed before striking their target

Others were duds. Of the 330 missiles and armed drones fired by the Iranian military, only 165 actually got airborne and headed toward Israel. More than 80 of the rockets were shot down by US aircraft, with more being taken out by American warships in the Mediterranean. British, French, and even Jordanian aircraft helped eliminate the rest. Shortly after the attack Saturday, President Biden said US forces took out "nearly all" the Iranian rockets which were fired from locations in Iran, Yemen, Syria and Iraq. Iran had warned for weeks that their attack was coming which gave Israel's allies time to prepare but can you imagine if one of those missiles malfunctioned and struck a neighboring country?

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Northwest · M

[quote]Many Iranian missiles either failed to launch or [b][i]crashed before striking their target[/i][/b][/quote]

[quote]Of the 330 missiles and armed drones fired by the Iranian military, [b][i]only 165 actually got airborne and headed toward Israel[/i][/b].[/quote]

Your two statements (bolded and italic), or wherever you copied it from, is contradictory. But the arithmetic does not work to only 165 got airborne.

But if 80 were shot down by the Western alliance, that leaves 85. If Jordan also took out dozens, that leaves, let's say 50.

Israel reported that 9 of those ballistic missiles hit 2 different airbases, with several other missiles and drones, ,scoring direct, not fatal hits and not a whole lot of damage.

This means that Israel's defensive systems, were only able to knock out 50% or so of the incoming attack, or best case 75%.

The primary reason Iran gave advance notice is to make sure the [b][i]civilian[/i][/b] airspace if clear.

The fact is that the same people in Israel, do not want an Israeli retaliation, because they determined that Israel could not have done it on its own, AND the attack was minor.

In case of retaliation, Iran can response with an overwhelming attack. I'm sure Israel can retaliate, but then both countries will be relegated to the stone age.

trollslayer · 46-50, M

@Northwest Interesting thoughts. My feeling is that Iran really didn't care if it hit anything - it was not their point. All they wanted was propaganda to their proxies and citizens that they are not a push over and send a message that they are willing to shoot back.

They could have responded in other ways. That they chose not to is curious.

Likewise, Israel could have waged the war in Gaza in other ways. That they chose not to is curious.

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Puppycat23 · F

@Northwest

[quote]The primary reason Iran gave advance notice is to make sure the civilian airspace if clear.[/quote]

That wasn't the primary reason though. Closing the airspace was secondary to that warning. Iran's advance notice was still to give Israel and its allies, as well as Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the UAE time to prepare for Iran's missile attack, which minimized casualties. At the end of the day Iran does not want a war with Israel, this was only done as way to save face.

Northwest · M

@Puppycat23 The Mullahs’s agenda is to destroy Israel and capture Jerusalem. This is part of the core founding documents of all its proxy militias.

So, causing harm to Israelis was not something they worried about. As a consequence of having to clear the air space, they had to notify US-friendly nations. The US administration got its precise intelligence, not from Iran.

Puppycat23 · F

@Northwest

[quote] As a consequence of having to clear the air space, they had to notify US-friendly nations. [/quote]

Got a source for that?

Northwest · M

@Puppycat23

[quote]Got a source for that?
[/quote]

https://www.timesofisrael.com/report-gulf-states-including-saudi-arabia-provided-intelligence-on-iran-attack/

[quote]They said that two days before the attack, Iranian officials told Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states about the profile of the response they were planning against Israel and its timing in order that those countries could secure their own airspace. That information was passed on to the US, providing vital details for the US and Israeli defense plans.

[/quote]

Puppycat23 · F

@Northwest

I think what happened here is Iran wasn’t expecting Saudi Arabia, the UAE and possibly other Gulf states to play a role in shooting down the missiles as well, as it appears there was some hesitancy in helping/aiding Israel. In the end, Saudi Arabia and the UAE passing secret information along about Iran’s imminent missile attack still gave Israel, its allies, and other Arab countries time to prepare once word was out about what Iran was going to do.

Northwest · M

@Puppycat23 [quote]I think what happened here is Iran wasn’t expecting Saudi Arabia, the UAE and possibly other Gulf states to play a role in shooting down the missiles as well, as it appears there was some hesitancy in helping/aiding Israel. [/quote]

Historically, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, more like the GCCC has shared every piece of intelligence with the US, when it comes to Iran, because Iran, despite to the temporary easing of diplomatic relations a few months ago, NOT Israel, has been the primary "foe" for the GCCC.

There is no reason Iran would think differently now. Iran remains the primary supplier of weapons, training and support, for the Houthis.

While there was tension, since Oct 7, there has never been hesitancy when the question of whom you support, Iran and Israel, when it comes to the GCCC. I was asking once, during a visit, about some of the defensive installations around water desalination/distribution structure, and the answer: to make sure Iran does not try something foolish.

trollslayer · 46-50, M

@Northwest that is their stated agenda, but i wonder if they truly have that as a goal, or is this mostly propaganda to keep their own power. Nobody would want to read a comic book without an arch enemy. Capture jerusalem and destroy israel and soon your population will focus on domestic issues.

Northwest · M

@trollslayer [quote]that is their stated agenda[/quote]

You mean Iran's stated agenda? As in, destroy Israel and capture Jerusalem?

No, really. This is exactly what they want to do and believe them when they say this is what they want to do.

Some of us thought an Evangelical agenda, is something ridiculous, and domestic and foreign policies, dictated by the Evangelical version of Jesus, is fodder for late night TV. And then Trump happened, and next thing you know Roe v Wade is history.

Oh, and in case you're ever confused about why we moved our Embassy to Jerusalem and pushed the so-called Abraham accords: it's to facilitate the Evangelical wet Armageddon dream.

These folks are true believers.

trollslayer · 46-50, M

@Northwest interesting. As I said above, israel is a “common enemy” and tough language and nuisance wars against israel galvanize their power and influence vs other MidEast and Asian countries (GCCC, Pakistan, etc). Without a shared enemy of israel, their power over various militant groups becomes weaker.