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Iran has reportedly ensnared Israel in a strategic “decoy trap,” significantly weakening its air defense systems, according to a report by the U.S.-based Wall Street Journal. The tactic, involving the use of decoy missiles, has diminished Israel’s ability to intercept Iran’s missile strikes, putting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s military forces under severe pressure. Another U.S. outlet, The Washington Post, claims that Israel’s stockpile of defense missiles could be depleted within 10 to 12 days if the current situation persists.
Citing a U.S. official, the Wall Street Journal reports that Israel’s highly advanced Arrow missile defense system is nearing exhaustion due to Iran’s sophisticated strategy. The “decoy trap” involves launching decoy missiles that mimic the appearance and behavior of real missiles, designed to confuse and overwhelm enemy air defense systems. These decoys, often metallic objects emitting heat signatures, trick systems like Israel’s Iron Dome into mistaking them for actual threats. As a result, Israel’s automated defense systems deploy interceptors to neutralize these decoys, leaving the defenses vulnerable when real missiles, particularly Iran’s hypersonic variants, strike swiftly.
The Wall Street Journal explains that once an Iron Dome battery launches its interceptors, it takes approximately 10 to 11 minutes to reload. However, Iran’s hypersonic missiles can strike Israeli territory within just seven minutes of detection, exploiting this window of vulnerability. By deploying decoys to exhaust Israel’s interceptors, Iran creates opportunities for its hypersonic missiles to penetrate defenses and hit targets effectively.
This escalating conflict has raised concerns about Israel’s ability to sustain its defense capabilities amid Iran’s relentless missile barrages. The situation underscores the growing sophistication of Iran’s military tactics and the challenges facing Israel’s multilayered air defense systems, including Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow.
AI/MR
