Israel's Air Defence 'Overwhelmed' As Interceptor Stockpile Dwindles Amid Ongoing Iran Barrage

Israel is reportedly running low on long-range missile interceptors, sparking serious concern about the sustainability of its air defence systems, The Wall Street Journal has reported, citing a US official familiar with allied intelligence.

The development comes amid ongoing missile exchanges between Iran and Israel.

Photo Credit: AP/PTI

Since launching "Operation Rising Lion" last Friday, Iran is believed to have fired around 400 ballistic missiles-drawn from an estimated stockpile of 2,000 capable of striking Israeli territory.

While Israeli air defences-particularly the high-altitude Arrow system-have intercepted most incoming threats, the pressure on these systems is mounting.

Israeli officials told the WSJ that a third of Iran's missile launchers have been destroyed and claimed air superiority over Iranian skies.

However, intelligence sources warned that more than half of Iran's missile stockpile remains intact, with some likely hidden in underground facilities.

Sustaining Israel's multi-layered missile defence-comprising the Iron Dome, David's Sling, the Arrow system, and US-supplied Patriot and THAAD batteries-is proving increasingly costly.

Israeli financial outlet The Marker estimated that missile defence operations are costing as much as 1 billion shekels (approximately $285 million) per night. The Arrow system alone uses interceptors that cost $3 million each.

With Iranian missile attacks continuing almost daily, Israeli interceptor stockpiles are under severe strain.

A source briefed on Israeli and US intelligence told WSJ that, unless urgently resupplied by the United States or bolstered by foreign intervention, Israel may only be able to sustain its current defence posture for another 10 to 12 days.

"The system is already overwhelmed. Soon, they may have to choose which missiles to intercept," the source warned.

The toll is already becoming evident. On Friday night, Iranian missiles reportedly penetrated Israeli defences and struck near the IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv.

On Sunday, a direct strike forced the closure of a major oil refinery near Haifa. Then on Tuesday morning, verified videos on social media showed multiple Iranian missile impacts near an Israeli intelligence facility north of Tel Aviv.

So far, Israeli authorities have confirmed 24 fatalities and more than 600 injuries since the latest round of hostilities began.

While Israel's retaliatory operations have inflicted substantial damage on Iran-targeting military installations, oil assets, and nuclear-linked infrastructure-the course of the conflict may ultimately depend on whether Israel can continue to shield its territory without depleting its most advanced and costly defence arsenal.