Satellite images show damage to Israeli air base in Iranian attack

On April 13, Iran launched an attack on Israel. Since then, there have been conflicting reports on the success and impact of the attack. Iran claimed that the attack was successful, while Israel claimed that the attack was thwarted.

A BBC The report analyzed satellite images and revealed the facts of Iran’s attack on Israel and the subsequent Israeli response.

On April 13, Iran launched airstrikes against Israel in retaliation for the attack on the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, which Iran called “Vada Sadiq”. According to reports, Iran launched about 300 missiles and suicide drones in the early hours of the day. However, Israel claimed that it intercepted most of the missiles with the help of the “Aero” air defense system and regional allies, avoiding major damage to Israeli territory.

According to Israeli military sources, the Iranian strikes included 170 drones, 120 ballistic missiles and 30 cruise missiles, carried out in three phases and targeted military facilities rather than civilian centers.

Also read: Iran attacks Israel: World leaders react

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Aerospace Force, under the leadership of Amir Ali Hajizadeh, spearheaded the attack. However, specific details about the type and number of drones and missiles used remain undisclosed.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards initially said in a statement on state television that specific targets in Israel had been hit by drones and missiles.

Subsequent reports showed Iranian drones, Pave cruise missiles, Emad-3 ballistic missiles, and other Iranian ballistic missiles such as the Khyber Shakan and Qadir.

Iranian media showed images of missiles and drones being fired at Israel. Image credit: IRIBNEWS

Iran claimed responsibility for the attack, which targeted Nevatim Air Base and the Hermon intelligence base in the Golan Heights.

The BBC analyzed satellite images and compared them before and after the attack, revealing the aftermath of the attack.

Significant changes have been observed, including damage to the Nevatim Air Base. The base is strategically important due to its proximity to Israel’s Dimona nuclear facility, and Israeli authorities reportedly confirmed that the base sustained minor damage. Imagery showed changes to the runway and infrastructure, confirming reports of the impact of the attack.

The location of Nevatim Air Force Base. Image credit: Microsoft

Assessment of losses and claims at Nevatim Air Base

Nevatim Air Base, located in the southern West Bank and west of the Dead Sea, has changed significantly based on satellite images taken between April 12 and 14.

The images show damage to at least four locations within the base, particularly the runway, which bore clear signs of an attack. Israeli authorities have confirmed that the base suffered “minor” damage, and a video released by the Israeli military shows that the base is being repaired.

Damage was found in several places at the Nevatim base. The situation on April 12 (left) and April 13 (right). Photo: PLANET LABS (PBC)

Satellite image of the southern runway at Nevatim Air Base. Conditions on April 12 (left) and April 13 (right). Photo: PLANET LABS (PBC)

The repairs to the runway captured in the video match satellite images showing significant changes at the same location, indicating the extent of the damage caused by the Iranian attack. The proximity of the damaged area to an Israeli fighter jet hangar highlights the strategic significance of the target.

The footage shot by the Israel Defense Forces shows that the southern runway near the hangar at the Navatim base is being repaired. Image source: Screenshot

Although Israel has downplayed the impact, Iran claims the base hosts Israeli F-35 stealth fighters, which have allegedly been involved in attacks on Iranian targets. Israel, however, has neither confirmed nor denied the claims.

According to former UN weapons inspector Scott Wright, “Nevatim Air Base was attacked by five to seven missiles.” ABC quoted some Israeli sources as saying that the base was attacked by five missiles.

Hermon Intelligence Base and Ramon Air Force Base

The BBC also delved into details of Hermon’s intelligence base in Israel and the claims made by both sides following the conflict.

The Hermon Intelligence Base is located in the Golan Heights near the border between Syria and Iraq. As the headquarters of Israel’s important military intelligence unit 8200, it has important strategic significance.

8200 is responsible for electronic intelligence and is considered Israel’s largest and most important intelligence unit. The base’s proximity to the volatile border region highlights its importance in gathering critical information for Israeli security operations.

During the conflict, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard claimed that the intelligence base in Hermon was involved in the intelligence gathering for the attack on its consulate, thus justifying Iran’s attack on the base.

However, the nature and extent of the damage to the base is difficult to determine due to the lack of ground evidence and specific on-site data.

Iranian state media claimed that Ramon Air Base had also been successfully attacked, but Israeli authorities refuted those claims, citing a lack of substantive evidence and on-the-ground verification.

Iran’s Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri singled out Hermon Intelligence Base and Nevatim Air Base as targets in a television interview, further highlighting the conflicting accounts surrounding the targets.

Comparison of satellite imagery conducted after the attack showed minimal changes in the vicinity of the targeted military base, with no obvious evidence of damage or alteration.