Damages from Iranian Ballistic Missiles in Israel Far Greater Than Reported

Watan-After the dust settled from Israel’s military action against Iran, it has become clear that the full extent of damage inflicted on Israel by Iranian ballistic missiles is far larger and more precise than initially disclosed—and yet still incomplete.

A new report by the Palestinian Center for Israeli Studies (Madaar) points to multiple documents and investigations—among them the findings of political analyst and Channel 13 journalist Reviv Drucker. He stated that “there are many hits on sensitive strategic sites that we still haven’t spoken about, and there’s a reason everyone watching at home understands,” adding, “there are other sites we don’t even know about.”

The newspaper Haaretz described how “everyone felt the shock waves and destruction caused by the heavy Iranian missiles wherever they landed,” noting: “Damage extended for hundreds of meters; hundreds—even thousands—of apartments were affected. Some suffered severe damage with collapsed walls and plaster partitions; others saw only broken windows, door frames, and household items.”

According to Haaretz, most municipalities are demolishing damaged buildings as quickly as possible—sometimes within days—both because of the imminent danger and the desire to erase a painful scar at the heart of residential neighborhoods.

Madaar’s report offers a detailed breakdown of structural impacts:

• Tel Aviv: ~480 buildings hit, 20 severely damaged, across five impact zones

• Ramat Gan: 237 buildings affected (10 severe) in three sites

• Bat Yam: 78 buildings in a single direct strike (22 slated for full demolition)

• Rishon LeZion: 200 buildings hit, 10 severe

• Rehovot: ~135 buildings hit (20 severe)

• Tirat Carmel (Acre district): 5 buildings heavily damaged, 70 moderate/light damage

• Holon: 5 heavy, 70 moderate/light

• Haifa: 4 heavy, 60 moderate/light

Meanwhile, the Dvar newspaper reports that Israel’s Property Tax Authority—responsible for assessing damage and payouts—has opened roughly 33,000 files for building damage, 4,450 for contents and equipment, and 4,119 for vehicle damage. It estimates thousands more buildings remain unclaimed.

Another Dvar piece highlights the heavy toll on businesses, noting that even small enterprises—highly dependent on uninterrupted trade—face severe losses after years of volatility since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Severity and Costs

In terms of both severity and financial cost, the one-and-a-half-week war far exceeds previous conflicts. Data presented by the Tax Authority to the Knesset Finance Committee show that, prior to this conflict, only one building had been slated for demolition, with ₪2.5 billion paid in compensation. Since then, 25 more buildings have been marked for demolition, with initial compensation estimates at ₪5 billion—and rising.

Reports have also detailed ongoing hardships for displaced families. Ynet notes that despite Israel’s declaration of “return to normal life” after the Israel-Iran ceasefire went into effect, tens of thousands are forced to adapt to a new reality: life without a home. Over 30,000 residences have been destroyed, and many displaced families will soon have to leave the hotels provided and seek alternative housing until their homes are rebuilt or repaired.

Protecting Vulnerable Populations

In this context, the State Comptroller and Ombudsperson have monitored the damage and institutional response. A statement from the Comptroller’s office describes site visits in Petah Tikva and Herzliya, meetings with displaced residents housed in Herzliya hotels, and a focus on how government bodies are assisting those evacuated.

In a memo to government ministries, the Comptroller emphasized “special care for the elderly and people with disabilities,” revealing a recent report on the “Iron Swords” operation’s lessons regarding their evacuation. He stated: “The damage we observed underscores the great danger to seniors and persons with disabilities, given current protection gaps.

The Welfare Ministry must coordinate suitable solutions for these groups. Among the casualties were elderly and disabled individuals, who require our special attention. We will closely follow how these populations are treated.”

Israeli authorities have also limited the publication of missile impact data on security grounds—to prevent Iran from obtaining targeting information—and to preserve public morale, since each missile strike triggered genuine panic.