Will Israel's interceptors outlast Iran's missiles? The answer may shape the war
Jerusalem: Aside from a potentially game-changing US intervention that shapes the fate of Iran's nuclear program, two factors will help decide the length of the Israel-Iran war: Israel's reserve of missile interceptors and Iran's stock of long-range missiles.
Since Iran started retaliating against Israel's fire last week, Israel's world-leading air defence system has intercepted most incoming Iranian ballistic missiles, giving the Israeli air force more time to strike Iran without incurring major losses at home.
Now, as the war drags on, Israel is firing interceptors faster than it can produce them. That has raised questions within the Israeli security establishment about whether the country will run low on air defence missiles before Iran uses up its ballistic arsenal, according to eight current and former officials.
Already, Israel's military has had to conserve its use of interceptors and is giving greater priority to the defence of densely populated areas and strategic infrastructure, according to the officials. Most spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak more freely.
'No one envisaged we would be fighting on so many fronts and defending against so many rounds of ballistic missiles.'
Zohar Palti, former senior Mossad officer
Interceptors are 'not grains of rice,' said Brigadier General Ran Kochav, who commanded Israel's air defence system until 2021 and still serves in the military reserve. 'The number is finite.'
'If a missile is supposed to hit refineries in Haifa, it's clear that it's more important to intercept that missile than one that will hit the Negev desert,' Kochav said. Conserving Israel's interceptors is 'a challenge', he added. 'We can make it, but it's a challenge.'
Asked for comment on the limits of its interceptor arsenal, the Israeli military said in a brief statement that it 'is prepared and ready to handle any scenario and is operating defensively and offensively to remove threats to Israeli civilians'.
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Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Israel-Iran conflict LIVE updates: Israel says ‘new wave' of attacks has begun; Donald Trump scorns EU peace efforts, as death toll nears 700
Go to latest Pinned post from 12.12pm What you need to know Good afternoon. If you are just joining our ongoing coverage of the crisis in the Middle East and the Israel-Iran war, here's a quick overview of the latest events: Israel and Iran launched more attacks in the past few hours, with a barrage of Iranian missiles exploding over central Israel and the Israeli Air Force bombing sites in central Iran. A missile strike on the Israeli city of Haifa wounded 30 people overnight. Israeli strikes killed at least 44 Palestinians in Gaza overnight, including many who were seeking food aid, local officials said. US President Donald Trump has scorned European peace efforts, after foreign ministers from the UK, France and Germany held inconclusive talks with their Iranian counterpart. Iran says it would not discuss the future of its nuclear program while it was under attack by Israel. Israel's UN envoy told the UN Security Council his country would not stop its attacks 'until Iran's nuclear threat is dismantled', while the country's top general warned of a 'prolonged campaign'. Israel's foreign minister claimed the bombing campaign had already set back Iranian efforts to build nuclear weapons efforts by two to three years. Australia has shut its embassy in Tehran, and sent defence personnel and assets to the region to help evacuate Australians. Earlier, Trump said he would decide whether the US would join military action against Iran within two weeks. 1.31pm Gabbard blames 'fake news' after Trump rebukes her over Iranian weapons program The US Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, has taken to social media to assert that Iran is 'weeks to months' away from producing a nuclear weapon, after US President Donald Trump branded her 'wrong' for stating in March that there was no evidence Iran was building a weapon. She said the media has taken her March testimony 'out of context' and was trying to 'manufacture division.' Trump contested intelligence assessments relayed earlier this year by his spy chief that Tehran was not building a nuclear weapon when he spoke with reporters at an airport in Morristown, New Jersey, this morning. 'She's wrong,' Trump said. Gabbard posted this morning on the social media platform X that she agreed with Trump. 'America has intelligence that Iran is at the point that it can produce a nuclear weapon within weeks to months, if they decide to finalise the assembly. President Trump has been clear that can't happen, and I agree.' 'The dishonest media is intentionally taking my testimony out of context and spreading fake news as a way to manufacture division.' 1.11pm Australians may be able to get flights out of Israel from Monday Australians wishing to leave Israel may be able to do so on commercial flights from Monday after the Israeli government said it was reopening airspace for some outgoing tourists. 'We are aware of reports airspace in Israel may reopen soon,' the government's latest travel advice says. Loading 'We're contacting registered Australians who want to leave Israel about our plans for assisted departures. 'If you have an existing ticket for cancelled flights, we encouraged you to keep speaking with airlines. This may be the fastest way for you to depart.' The federal government is urging Australians in Iran, Israel and Palestine to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade here. Israel's Transportation Minister Miri Regev said on Friday that some outgoing flights would be allowed from Monday. The federal government is advising people not to travel to the region and leave if they can. The latest warning on the website is here.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Israel and Iran trade fire as Europe's diplomacy stalls
Israel and Iran have traded further strikes a week into their war, as Donald Trump weighed US military involvement and key European ministers met with Iran's top diplomat in Geneva in a scramble to de-escalate the conflict. But the first face-to-face meeting between Western and Iranian officials in the weeklong war concluded after four hours with no sign of an immediate breakthrough. To give diplomacy a chance, Trump said he would put off deciding for up to two weeks whether to join Israel's air campaign against Iran. Whether or not the US joins, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel's military operation in Iran would continue "for as long as it takes" to eliminate what he called the existential threat of Iran's nuclear program and arsenal of ballistic missiles. As negotiations ended in Switzerland, European officials expressed hope for future negotiations and Iran's top diplomat said he was open to further dialogue. But Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasised that Tehran had no interest in negotiating with the US while Israel continued attacking. "Iran is ready to consider diplomacy if aggression ceases and the aggressor is held accountable for its committed crimes," he told reporters. Trump was dismissive of the Geneva talks saying Iran didn't want to speak to Europe. "They want to speak to us. Europe is not going to be able to help in this," Trump said. Those comments - however blunt - were not refuted by the Europeans. "Above all, it is of great importance that the United States of America be involved in these negotiations and in finding a solution," German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said after the meeting. After Israeli warplanes hit dozens of military targets across Iran, including missile-manufacturing facilities, an Iranian missile crashed into Israel's northern city of Haifa, sending plumes of smoke billowing over the Mediterranean port and wounding at least 31 people. Israel's air attacks since its campaign began on June 13 have killed 639 people in Iran, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, a US-based human rights organisation. The dead include the military's top echelon and nuclear scientists. In Israel, 24 civilians have been killed in Iranian missile attacks, according to authorities. Addressing an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency warned Israel against attacks on Iran's nuclear reactors, particularly its only commercial nuclear power plant in the southern city of Bushehr. "I want to make it absolutely and completely clear...a direct hit would result in a very high release of radioactivity to the environment," said Rafael Grossi, chief of the UN nuclear watchdog. Israel has instead focused its strikes on the main uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, centrifuge workshops near Tehran, laboratories in Isfahan and the country's Arak heavy water reactor southwest of the capital. Grossi has warned repeatedly that such sites should not be military targets. Iranian state media reported explosions from Israeli strikes in an industrial area of Rasht, along the coast of the Caspian Sea. Israel's military had warned the public to evacuate the area, but with Iran's internet shut off — now for more than 48 hours — it's unclear just how many people could see the message. Iran has insisted on its right to enrich uranium — albeit at lower levels — in recent talks over its nuclear program. But Trump, like Israel, has demanded Iran end its enrichment program altogether. Iran had previously agreed to limit its uranium enrichment and allow international inspectors access to its nuclear sites under a 2015 deal with the US, France, China, Russia, Britain and Germany in exchange for sanctions relief. But after Trump pulled the US unilaterally out of the deal during his first term, Iran began enriching uranium up to 60 per cent — a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent — and restricting access to its nuclear facilities. with DPA Israel and Iran have traded further strikes a week into their war, as Donald Trump weighed US military involvement and key European ministers met with Iran's top diplomat in Geneva in a scramble to de-escalate the conflict. But the first face-to-face meeting between Western and Iranian officials in the weeklong war concluded after four hours with no sign of an immediate breakthrough. To give diplomacy a chance, Trump said he would put off deciding for up to two weeks whether to join Israel's air campaign against Iran. Whether or not the US joins, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel's military operation in Iran would continue "for as long as it takes" to eliminate what he called the existential threat of Iran's nuclear program and arsenal of ballistic missiles. As negotiations ended in Switzerland, European officials expressed hope for future negotiations and Iran's top diplomat said he was open to further dialogue. But Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasised that Tehran had no interest in negotiating with the US while Israel continued attacking. "Iran is ready to consider diplomacy if aggression ceases and the aggressor is held accountable for its committed crimes," he told reporters. Trump was dismissive of the Geneva talks saying Iran didn't want to speak to Europe. "They want to speak to us. Europe is not going to be able to help in this," Trump said. Those comments - however blunt - were not refuted by the Europeans. "Above all, it is of great importance that the United States of America be involved in these negotiations and in finding a solution," German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said after the meeting. After Israeli warplanes hit dozens of military targets across Iran, including missile-manufacturing facilities, an Iranian missile crashed into Israel's northern city of Haifa, sending plumes of smoke billowing over the Mediterranean port and wounding at least 31 people. Israel's air attacks since its campaign began on June 13 have killed 639 people in Iran, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, a US-based human rights organisation. The dead include the military's top echelon and nuclear scientists. In Israel, 24 civilians have been killed in Iranian missile attacks, according to authorities. Addressing an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency warned Israel against attacks on Iran's nuclear reactors, particularly its only commercial nuclear power plant in the southern city of Bushehr. "I want to make it absolutely and completely clear...a direct hit would result in a very high release of radioactivity to the environment," said Rafael Grossi, chief of the UN nuclear watchdog. Israel has instead focused its strikes on the main uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, centrifuge workshops near Tehran, laboratories in Isfahan and the country's Arak heavy water reactor southwest of the capital. Grossi has warned repeatedly that such sites should not be military targets. Iranian state media reported explosions from Israeli strikes in an industrial area of Rasht, along the coast of the Caspian Sea. Israel's military had warned the public to evacuate the area, but with Iran's internet shut off — now for more than 48 hours — it's unclear just how many people could see the message. Iran has insisted on its right to enrich uranium — albeit at lower levels — in recent talks over its nuclear program. But Trump, like Israel, has demanded Iran end its enrichment program altogether. Iran had previously agreed to limit its uranium enrichment and allow international inspectors access to its nuclear sites under a 2015 deal with the US, France, China, Russia, Britain and Germany in exchange for sanctions relief. But after Trump pulled the US unilaterally out of the deal during his first term, Iran began enriching uranium up to 60 per cent — a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent — and restricting access to its nuclear facilities. with DPA Israel and Iran have traded further strikes a week into their war, as Donald Trump weighed US military involvement and key European ministers met with Iran's top diplomat in Geneva in a scramble to de-escalate the conflict. But the first face-to-face meeting between Western and Iranian officials in the weeklong war concluded after four hours with no sign of an immediate breakthrough. To give diplomacy a chance, Trump said he would put off deciding for up to two weeks whether to join Israel's air campaign against Iran. Whether or not the US joins, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel's military operation in Iran would continue "for as long as it takes" to eliminate what he called the existential threat of Iran's nuclear program and arsenal of ballistic missiles. As negotiations ended in Switzerland, European officials expressed hope for future negotiations and Iran's top diplomat said he was open to further dialogue. But Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasised that Tehran had no interest in negotiating with the US while Israel continued attacking. "Iran is ready to consider diplomacy if aggression ceases and the aggressor is held accountable for its committed crimes," he told reporters. Trump was dismissive of the Geneva talks saying Iran didn't want to speak to Europe. "They want to speak to us. Europe is not going to be able to help in this," Trump said. Those comments - however blunt - were not refuted by the Europeans. "Above all, it is of great importance that the United States of America be involved in these negotiations and in finding a solution," German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said after the meeting. After Israeli warplanes hit dozens of military targets across Iran, including missile-manufacturing facilities, an Iranian missile crashed into Israel's northern city of Haifa, sending plumes of smoke billowing over the Mediterranean port and wounding at least 31 people. Israel's air attacks since its campaign began on June 13 have killed 639 people in Iran, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, a US-based human rights organisation. The dead include the military's top echelon and nuclear scientists. In Israel, 24 civilians have been killed in Iranian missile attacks, according to authorities. Addressing an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency warned Israel against attacks on Iran's nuclear reactors, particularly its only commercial nuclear power plant in the southern city of Bushehr. "I want to make it absolutely and completely clear...a direct hit would result in a very high release of radioactivity to the environment," said Rafael Grossi, chief of the UN nuclear watchdog. Israel has instead focused its strikes on the main uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, centrifuge workshops near Tehran, laboratories in Isfahan and the country's Arak heavy water reactor southwest of the capital. Grossi has warned repeatedly that such sites should not be military targets. Iranian state media reported explosions from Israeli strikes in an industrial area of Rasht, along the coast of the Caspian Sea. Israel's military had warned the public to evacuate the area, but with Iran's internet shut off — now for more than 48 hours — it's unclear just how many people could see the message. Iran has insisted on its right to enrich uranium — albeit at lower levels — in recent talks over its nuclear program. But Trump, like Israel, has demanded Iran end its enrichment program altogether. Iran had previously agreed to limit its uranium enrichment and allow international inspectors access to its nuclear sites under a 2015 deal with the US, France, China, Russia, Britain and Germany in exchange for sanctions relief. But after Trump pulled the US unilaterally out of the deal during his first term, Iran began enriching uranium up to 60 per cent — a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent — and restricting access to its nuclear facilities. with DPA Israel and Iran have traded further strikes a week into their war, as Donald Trump weighed US military involvement and key European ministers met with Iran's top diplomat in Geneva in a scramble to de-escalate the conflict. But the first face-to-face meeting between Western and Iranian officials in the weeklong war concluded after four hours with no sign of an immediate breakthrough. To give diplomacy a chance, Trump said he would put off deciding for up to two weeks whether to join Israel's air campaign against Iran. Whether or not the US joins, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel's military operation in Iran would continue "for as long as it takes" to eliminate what he called the existential threat of Iran's nuclear program and arsenal of ballistic missiles. As negotiations ended in Switzerland, European officials expressed hope for future negotiations and Iran's top diplomat said he was open to further dialogue. But Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasised that Tehran had no interest in negotiating with the US while Israel continued attacking. "Iran is ready to consider diplomacy if aggression ceases and the aggressor is held accountable for its committed crimes," he told reporters. Trump was dismissive of the Geneva talks saying Iran didn't want to speak to Europe. "They want to speak to us. Europe is not going to be able to help in this," Trump said. Those comments - however blunt - were not refuted by the Europeans. "Above all, it is of great importance that the United States of America be involved in these negotiations and in finding a solution," German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said after the meeting. After Israeli warplanes hit dozens of military targets across Iran, including missile-manufacturing facilities, an Iranian missile crashed into Israel's northern city of Haifa, sending plumes of smoke billowing over the Mediterranean port and wounding at least 31 people. Israel's air attacks since its campaign began on June 13 have killed 639 people in Iran, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, a US-based human rights organisation. The dead include the military's top echelon and nuclear scientists. In Israel, 24 civilians have been killed in Iranian missile attacks, according to authorities. Addressing an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency warned Israel against attacks on Iran's nuclear reactors, particularly its only commercial nuclear power plant in the southern city of Bushehr. "I want to make it absolutely and completely clear...a direct hit would result in a very high release of radioactivity to the environment," said Rafael Grossi, chief of the UN nuclear watchdog. Israel has instead focused its strikes on the main uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, centrifuge workshops near Tehran, laboratories in Isfahan and the country's Arak heavy water reactor southwest of the capital. Grossi has warned repeatedly that such sites should not be military targets. Iranian state media reported explosions from Israeli strikes in an industrial area of Rasht, along the coast of the Caspian Sea. Israel's military had warned the public to evacuate the area, but with Iran's internet shut off — now for more than 48 hours — it's unclear just how many people could see the message. Iran has insisted on its right to enrich uranium — albeit at lower levels — in recent talks over its nuclear program. But Trump, like Israel, has demanded Iran end its enrichment program altogether. Iran had previously agreed to limit its uranium enrichment and allow international inspectors access to its nuclear sites under a 2015 deal with the US, France, China, Russia, Britain and Germany in exchange for sanctions relief. But after Trump pulled the US unilaterally out of the deal during his first term, Iran began enriching uranium up to 60 per cent — a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent — and restricting access to its nuclear facilities. with DPA
SBS Australia
2 hours ago
- SBS Australia
Midday News Bulletin 21 June 2025
Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts . TRANSCRIPT Iran says it is open to diplomacy if Israel stops its attacks Two killed after Hurricane Erick makes landfall in Mexico's south Netball Australia signs a television deal with the newly launched All Women's Sports Network — European leaders are urging Iran to heed the two-week deadline outlined by US President Donald Trump and enter negotiations on its nuclear program. It comes as Iranian strikes in the Israeli port city of Haifa injured at least 19 people, three critically, causing extensive damage. A US based human rights groups say Israeli strikes have killed over 650 people in Iran, while Iranian strikes have killed 25 in Israel. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says that Iran will consider diplomacy only if Israel stops its aggression. Speaking after the Geneva meeting, the UK's Foreign Minister David Lammy urged Iran to understand the immediacy of the moment. "There is a window of within two weeks where we can see a diplomatic solution, and I think what, coming together with European colleagues today, we were urging is Iran to take that off ramp, to be serious about the diplomacy that is required at this moment." — Health authorities in Gaza say Israeli fire has killed at least 44 people in the past day, including 12 people in a house in Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza. Local officials say another 25 people were killed waiting for aid trucks south of Netzarim in central Gaza. Israel says soldiers shot at suspected militants before firing a missile but acknowledges some of those hit were not militants. The United Nations says that in the last few weeks, Israeli attacks have killed more than 400 people attempting to reach aid in Gaza. Virginia Gamba is the UN Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict. "The magnitude of the suffering of the children in Gaza defies and contravenes every human standard. We cannot continue to stand by and watch with no action. There is no justification for depriving children of access to survival means such as food, healthcare, and security." — A United States judge has ordered the immediate release of Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil from immigration custody. Mr Khalil, a prominent pro-Palestinian activist, was arrested by immigration agents at his university residence in March. The District Judge of New Jersey who heard the case says there was no evidence that Mr Khalil is a flight risk or danger to the public. The student, who became a permanent resident of the US last year, says he is being punished for political speech in violation of the Constitution's First Amendment. "This is not a matter of simply violating university rules. This is a movement, an anti-war movement. We have sparked similar Gaza solidarity encampments across the nation and even across the globe." The White House says it will appeal the decision and seek to remove Mr Khalil from the United States. — Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will wait longer for a meeting with US President Donald Trump, after deciding against a last-minute visit the NATO summit in The Hague next week. Mr Albanese had considered making the trip in the hope of securing his first face-to-face with the President, after a planned catch up on the sidelines of the G7 was cancelled. Instead, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles will represent Australia at the event as originally planned. — The protection of Aboriginal rock art and other ancient sites will be in focus, when the World Archaeological Congress meets in Australia for the first time. The week-long conference will welcome thousands of delegates from more than 70 countries to Darwin from tomorrow. It comes just weeks after the federal government approved an extension to the life of Woodside's North West Shelf gas project on WA's Burrup Peninsula. Scientists are concerned emissions from the nearby gas plant are degrading the renowned ancient rock art at Murujuga on the site. Charles Darwin University academics say Aboriginal rock art sites will be discussed at the conference. The Brisbane Lions have stunned Geelong with a 41-point win, claiming their first victory at the Cats' home ground in 22 years. Key forward Logan Morris kicked five goals while Cam Rayner scored three, with the Lions leading by 45 points in the third quarter before Geelong tried bravely to catch up. The final score of 92 to 51 put a dampener on the 350th game of Geelong veteran Patrick Dangerfield. The Cats will return to action against Richmond on July 5 and Brisbane host Port Adelaide the same night.
