Iran Again Claims Success in Barrage Against Israel Despite Interception
Yahya Rahim Safavi, a senior military advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, praised Iran’s April aerial bombardment of Israel in spite of the majority being intercepted.
"We launched one missile per second, totaling over 100 missiles within 100 seconds," he said if the attack which was Iran’s first direct attack against Israel. He further boasted that over 100 drones among the 350 drones, missiles and rockets, were also deployed in the assault, suggesting that the precision and scale of the attack were underestimated by both Israel and the United States.
The April 13 offensive, which Iran says was in retaliation for an Israeli strike on its consulate in Damascus that killed seven IRGC officers, involved the launch of hundreds of missiles and explosive drones. In a countermove, the United States led an international coalition, including the UK, to intercept the majority of the projectiles.
Observers have noted that the successful interception of the missiles and drones represents a significant defensive victory for Israel, casting a shadow over Iran's aggressive tactics.
Despite this, Iranian officials continue to portray the attack as a military success, using state media and public statements to amplify their military capabilities and project power against adversaries as the shadow war with Iran’s archenemy reached a historical climax.