Most of Iran’s missiles were intercepted but some reached Israel


Israeli Iron Dome launches to intercept missles from Iran April 14, 2024
Israeli Iron Dome air defense system launches to intercept missiles fired from Iran, in central Israel, April 14, 2024. (AP)

After Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones against Israel, some social media users misleadingly claimed all the projectiles were completely blocked before reaching Israel.

An April 14 Threads post said, “How embarrassing for Iran that not even one rocket hit Israel. In fact one rocket landed back in Iran. LONG LIVE ISRAEL!!!”

This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads.)

No rockets hit Israel claim edited screenshot
Figure 1: No rockets hit Israel claim edited screenshot

(Screengrab from Threads)

Israeli military officials said 99% of the more than 300 missiles and drones launched by Iran and Iran-backed groups operating out of Yemen, Syria and Iraq were intercepted.

Over the course of five hours starting late April 13, Iran and its allies fired 170 drones, more than 30 cruise missiles and more than 120 ballistic missiles. Israel’s multilayered defense system, with support from the militaries of the U.S., the United Kingdom and France, intercepted most of the drones and missiles.

Israeli officials said “a small number” of ballistic missiles reached Israel, causing damage to a military base, CNN reported. One person was seriously injured in the attack: a 7-year-old girl living in a Bedouin community in Israel’s southern Negev desert, The New York Times reported. No deaths have been reported.

U.S. officials told The Wall Street Journal that about half of Iran’s ballistic missiles failed to launch or crashed before reaching their intended targets.

We rate the claim that “not even one rocket (from Iran) hit Israel” False.

By
Sara Swann
Digital Research Analyst
April 15, 2024

Truth-o-meter Ruling

False

IF YOUR TIME IS SHORT

  • Israeli officials said 99% of the more than 300 drones and missiles launched by Iran were intercepted before they reached Israel.

  • Some ballistic missiles reached Israel, causing damage to a military base and severely injuring a 7-year-old girl.

  • U.S. officials said about half of Iran’s missiles failed to launch or crashed before reaching their intended targets.

  • No spin, just facts you can trust. Here’s how we do it.

Statement

“Not even one rocket (from Iran) hit Israel.”

Context

a post

Speaker/Target

Statement Date

April 14, 2024
Our Sources

Threads post (archived), April 14, 2024

The Associated Press, "Israeli military says 99% of drones and missiles launched by Iran were intercepted," April 14, 2024

CNN, "How Israel and allied defenses intercepted more than 300 Iranian missiles and drones," April 14, 2024

The Wall Stree Journal, "Many Iranian Missiles Failed to Launch or Crashed Before Striking Target, U.S. Officials Say," April 15, 2024

CBS News, "What Iran launched at Israel in its unprecedented attack, and what made it through the air defenses," April 15, 2024

The New York Times, "A 7-Year-Old Girl Is the Lone Serious Casualty of Iran’s Barrage," April 15, 2024

The White House, "Statement from President Joe Biden on Iran's Attacks against the State of Israel," April 13, 2024

Translations

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