By: Ariella Haviv

In a newly released assessment of “Operation Rising Lion,” Israeli military officials disclosed that the country’s cutting-edge missile defense architecture prevented more than $15 billion in property damage and saved untold civilian lives during the high-stakes 12-day war with Iran. Brig. Gen. (ret.) Daniel Gold, head of the Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D) within Israel’s Defense Ministry, delivered the announcement Tuesday, revealing for the first time the extraordinary effectiveness of Israel’s multi-layered air and missile defense systems.

According to a report on Thursday at The Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), the operation — the first direct military exchange of this scale between Israel and Iran — showcased the culmination of decades of Israeli innovation in defensive and offensive aerospace warfare. The results, as presented by Gold and his team, painted a portrait of a nation not only defending its skies but also striking decisively deep within enemy territory with surgical precision and tactical superiority.

Central to the success of Operation Rising Lion was Israel’s multi-tiered air defense network, including the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and the Arrow systems, all of which were recently upgraded ahead of the operation. The Iron Dome, optimized earlier this year to counter drone swarms, reportedly achieved an interception rate of over 99% against unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched by Iran and its regional proxies.

As JNS reported, this performance was matched by newly deployed variants of the Arrow missile defense system, designed to counter Iran’s evolving ballistic missile threats, including those with extended range and maneuverability. These systems were installed just days before the start of hostilities, a move that now appears prophetic given their success in intercepting 86% of incoming ballistic missiles from Iran.

In remarks carried by JNS, Gold emphasized that “the total potential damage from the missile barrage could have exceeded $15 billion,” but thanks to the effectiveness of Israel’s defensive shield, “actual damage was limited to a fraction of that.” The Defense Ministry added that the systems prevented seven times the damage that was ultimately sustained.

On the offensive front, Israel’s strategic deployment of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) revolutionized its operational footprint over Iranian territory. According to the Defense Ministry’s figures cited by JNS, drones accounted for 60% of all flight hours during the operation and were responsible for half of all IDF strike missions.

More than 500 precision drone strikes were executed across Iran, including deep incursions into high-value strategic areas, targeting missile launchers, air defense systems, and components of Iran’s nuclear program. Israeli drones logged thousands of flight hours, often operating autonomously over hostile terrain with minimal risk to pilots.

“UAV operations delivered both reach and lethality, with minimal human exposure,” Gold stated. “They allowed for precision interdictions of Iranian threats with unprecedented efficiency.”

The JNS report noted that this campaign marked the first time Israel’s military deployed several previously classified drone systems that had been in development for over a decade. Their use, Israeli officials said, played a pivotal role in establishing air superiority over Tehran, allowing for follow-up strikes by manned aircraft with significantly reduced risk.

In tandem with UAV activity, space-based surveillance played a decisive role in Israel’s ability to preempt and neutralize Iranian threats. Israeli satellites collected more than 12,000 high-resolution images over Iranian territory, covering tens of millions of square kilometers both in daylight and at night. This real-time intelligence was fed directly into command-and-control systems and enabled rapid target acquisition and threat analysis.

“The success of our space intelligence platforms cannot be overstated,” Gold said. “They were integral to tracking Iranian missile activity and informing the decision matrix of commanders in real time.”

As JNS reported, the IDF’s intelligence units were able to identify and neutralize launchers often minutes before missile deployment, a level of responsiveness that proved vital in suppressing what could have been catastrophic strikes.

According to the Defense Ministry statement reported by JNS, many of the advanced systems deployed during Operation Rising Lion were used in live combat for the first time. These platforms — conceived in the shadow of Iran’s growing threat — were developed in close collaboration with Israel’s leading defense contractors, including Rafael, IAI, and Elbit Systems.

“From the drawing board to deployment, these systems were purpose-built for this scenario,” said a senior official in the DDR&D. “What we saw was the convergence of decades of research, funding, and strategic foresight.”

Among these were undisclosed air-to-ground munitions and electronic warfare capabilities tailored to evade and suppress Iran’s sophisticated radar systems. Several armament systems reportedly achieved tactical surprise, allowing Israeli aircraft to strike nuclear infrastructure targets that were believed to be heavily fortified and deeply buried.

While Operation Rising Lion is being hailed as a military and technological triumph by Israel, analysts quoted by JNS warn that the conflict underscores the volatility of the broader Middle East landscape. Iran, though dealt a substantial blow, retains significant ballistic capabilities and continues to fund proxy operations across Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.

Still, the Defense Ministry’s after-action report portrays an IDF more capable than ever of confronting threats that lie not only across its borders but across the region. As JNS editorialized, the operation served as both “a stern warning to Iran’s leadership and a reassurance to the Israeli public” that the country remains vigilant, agile, and technologically prepared for the conflicts of tomorrow.

In his closing remarks, Brig. Gen. Gold made clear that while the full impact of Operation Rising Lion may only be measured in time, the integration of Israeli air defenses and offensive UAV strategies marked a turning point in 21st-century warfare.

“This was not just a battle for survival,” Gold said. “It was a battle for the future of national defense — and Israel has decisively demonstrated that future.”