Satellite images show limited damage at Israel’s key air base

Ballistic missiles fired by Iran have damaged parts of an Air Force base that houses Israel’s advanced F-35 fighter jets in its central eastern part, satellite images confirm. However, there is no evidence of the widespread damage claimed earlier on social media.
Images captured by Planet Labs PBC and sourced via the Associated Press showed damage to two aircraft hangars at the Nevatim air base in the Negev region. While one hangar appears completely shattered, another adjacent hangar sustained a partial hit.
At least two craters appear to have been created by the impact of missiles at the air base on the night of October 1. Verified footage of the attack shows a volley of missiles falling on and around the air base.
The satellite images do not show any damage to the jets stationed at the base.
However, it is possible that one or two aircraft could have been damaged if they were inside the hangars at the time of the missile strike.
None of the damage appears significant enough to hamper the air base’s operations.
After the attacks, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged that its air bases were hit but denied any damage to its fighter jets, other aircraft, drones, munitions, or critical infrastructure.
In a statement, the IDF said the missiles damaged “office buildings and other maintenance areas” at the bases. It described the missile impacts at the air bases as “ineffective.”

Credit: Planet Labs PBC via Associated Press.

Within hours of Iran’s missile attacks, Israel conducted airstrikes in southern Gaza overnight, killing at least 32 people. According to US media reports, the United States had provided Israel with intelligence about Iran’s imminent missile attacks.
Such advance intelligence may have prompted the IDF to take measures to protect its critical military assets, including sending aircraft into the air and out of harm’s way.
After the attacks, many on social media claimed that at least 20 fifth-generation stealth F-35 fighter jets were damaged or destroyed.
On Tuesday night, Iran fired around 180 ballistic missiles, including its hypersonic medium-range “Fattah-2” missiles, at several cities across Israel after Israeli forces delivered severe blows to Iran-backed Hezbollah by assassinating its chief and other top leadership.
Footage circulated on social media showed missiles being intercepted by Israel’s defence systems, while others hit the ground in several areas, including near Mossad’s headquarters, a mall in Tel Aviv, a school, and near the Ort Tel Nof air base.
The attack has raised the possibility of a wider regional war involving Israel and its allies, such as the US and the UK, against Iran and the “Axis of Resistance” – a network of militias funded and supported by Tehran.
While Israel has vowed to exact a price from Iran, Tehran has warned of further escalation if attacked.