Iran targeted ‘Israeli society itself’ in massive missile barrage

Israel’s 12-day conflict with Iran marked a shift from previous wars with terrorist groups to a full-scale assault by a sovereign state, targeting not only military and critical infrastructure but also civilians, a senior official from Israel’s Home Front Command told the JC.

“For the first time in many years, we were attacked by a sovereign country that decided to put the home front and the public as its target. This is something very different from our war in Gaza or Lebanon with terror armies,” the official stated. “We have a country, Iran, that decided not to confront the IDF, the Israeli Air Force, or the Home Front Command – but rather Israeli society itself.”

The war saw a massive barrage of over 500 missiles and 1,000 drones, with projectiles aimed directly at Israeli civilians. This resulted in the deaths of 28 people, severe damage to more than 240 buildings, the destruction of over 2,300 apartments and the displacement of around 13,000 civilians.

“In some cases, like one building in Bat Yam, a few hundred civilians were left without a home,” the official said. “It’s not only their home – it’s the way they left their apartment with just a bag, their cellphone, and that’s it. All their belongings are destroyed. It’s not just an emotional feeling of loss. It’s like an earthquake – you need to start all over. I think that’s the biggest challenge for us.”

Major cities like Haifa were hit multiple times, causing deaths and extensive damage to infrastructure. “We had casualties, wounded and severe damage to the environment. The missile doesn’t just hit one building – it causes collateral damage, leading to many people being injured or trapped inside their shelters. We get to the point of impact as fast as we can, evacuate the wounded, and take care of the civilians,” the official added.

IDF search and rescue units dig under the rubble at the site of an Iranian missile impact in Beersheba (Image: IDF)[Missing Credit]

In another incident in Beersheba, he said Home Front Command personnel determined that a missile had struck the fourth floor of a six-story building. “From there, we started mapping all the floors, marking which apartments were impacted and how many people were inside each.

“After completing the mapping of the building, including all the floors, apartments, and rooms, we begin the rescue operation,” he continued. The Home Front Command, established in 1992 in the wake of the Gulf War, has been preparing for such a crisis for over two decades. “It was the first war in which the Israeli home front became a target – this time by Iraq,” the official recalled. “After the 2006 Second Lebanon War, we realized we needed to provide highly advanced search and rescue operations for Israeli society.”

“We’ve been preparing for this for two decades, and we were ready,” he emphasised. “It may look very bad in the news, but Home Front Command units – dozens of battalions with 400 personnel each – were deployed across the country, ready to respond to missile or drone impacts. Although we have a very good aerial defense system, a few dozen missiles still struck directly.”

Search and rescue units dig under the rubble at the site of an Iranian missile impact in Beersheba (Image: IDF)[Missing Credit]

During the war, 26,000 reservists were deployed across Israel to provide essential emergency services. A key component of the Home Front Command’s preparedness was its early alert system. “For more than two years, we experienced missile fire from Yemen. The distance from Yemen to Israel is practically the same as from Iran to Israel. We learned not to give people only a minute or a minute and a half of warning, but to deliver preliminary alerts,” the official explained.

A preliminary alert is issued 8 to 10 minutes before a missile reaches Israel, broadcast directly to phones via all major cellular providers without the need for any app download. “When we see that it’s approaching, for instance, Tel Aviv, we send a second alert – about 1 minute and 30 seconds before impact. That’s the signal to get into a shelter or safe room, close your windows, and shut the door,” the official said.

Over 21,000 alerts were triggered during the conflict, notifying civilians of incoming threats. Once missiles hit, search and rescue units stepped in. These units have significant experience, including from their work assisting earthquake recovery operations abroad.

“We have very advanced machinery and a variety of tools. We’re proud to say that in this operation, whenever Israeli citizens were trapped, we rescued them very quickly – within minutes or, at most, hours,” the official said.

The Home Front Command utilised a wide range of logistical resources, including around 120 heavy machinery vehicles, 640 towing pickup trucks, 430 trucks, 20 cranes, and 70 ambulances. According to the military, the average response time was approximately 15 minutes.

“We take pride in our resilience and the ability of the IDF’s various systems to protect the Israeli way of life. Although we experienced damage and casualties, it didn’t stop our lives,” the official continued.

On June 24, Israel and Iran reached a US-brokered ceasefire, which has held since then. Despite the challenges, life in Israel quickly returned to normal.

“Life in Israel is moving full steam ahead. We’re back in school, back at work. If you step outside in any city in Israel, the restaurants and beaches are packed. Life goes on, and this is deeply tied to the resilience of our society,” the official said.

“We continue living our lives, despite these very challenging times. All buildings and apartments that were damaged will be rebuilt quickly and better than before the war,” he concluded.