Israel Imposes Censorship on Reporting of Military Sites Hit by Iran, Obscuring Damage Extent
Iran's Ballistic Missiles Attack on Israel
On Tuesday evening, Iran launched a series of ballistic missiles across Israel, with video footage showing many of them hitting their targets. In response, Israel closed off several military zones and prohibited the publication of reports on the locations where the missiles landed. This censorship by Israel made it challenging to evaluate the full extent of the damage from Iran's strikes, with both the US and Israel providing ambiguous messages regarding the magnitude and impact of Tehran's attack.
Initial Assessment of the Attack
The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that an initial Israeli assessment of the attack showed minor damage to military bases. The Iranian attack hit the Nevatim air base in the Negev Desert, where Israel has stationed some F-35 fighter jets. However, Israel's military declined to share with the Journal the extent of the damage to the air base, stating that it didn't want to provide Iran with information that could help them understand the extent of the damage caused by their attack.
Missiles Located Near Dead Sea and Gedera
Several missiles were also found near the Dead Sea, close to where Israeli nuclear facilities are located. It was unclear whether they were intercepted by Israel or the US, according to the report. One missile hit near a school in the town of Gedera, with photos of the aftermath showing a massive crater in the ground and significant structural damage to nearby buildings.
Israel's Interception of Missiles
Israel stated that its military and a coalition of allies, including the US and UK, intercepted most of the missiles. However, video footage online showed numerous missiles landing inside Israel and exploding without being intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system. The attacks resulted in two injuries inside Israel, while one Palestinian was killed by shrapnel in the city of Jericho in the occupied West Bank.
Statements from US and Iran
US national security advisor Jake Sullivan, speaking briefly with reporters on Tuesday, described the Iranian attack as both a significant escalation by Tehran and also "ineffective". Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated in a broadcast on state television that 90 percent of the missiles it launched hit their targets successfully. Iran claimed it launched the attacks in response to Israel's killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, as well as its more recent killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoushan in southern Beirut.
Israel's Ongoing Censorship
Israel's censorship of Iran's attack is not a new occurrence. The Israeli government has increased its censorship during its ongoing war on Gaza, which began in October 2023 following the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel. A report by +972 Magazine found that in 2023, the Israeli military barred 613 articles from being published by media outlets in Israel. This number set a record for the magazine, which started tracking censorship in 2011. The magazine also discovered that an additional 2,703 articles had been redacted, marking the highest number of redactions since 2014, a year when Israel also launched a war on Gaza.
Bottom Line
The extent of the damage caused by Iran's missile attacks on Israel remains unclear due to the Israeli government's censorship of reports. This raises questions about the transparency of information during times of conflict and the impact of censorship on public understanding of such events. What are your thoughts on this issue? Do you believe that censorship during conflicts is justified, or should the public have full access to information? Share your thoughts and this article with your friends. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.
