On the eve of the attack, Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir presented the cabinet with the projected Israeli casualties.
By Hezy Laing
Since the beginning of the war, Iranian missile strikes have claimed the lives of several Israelis—but the toll could have been far worse.
On the eve of the conflict, Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir presented the cabinet with the projected casualties in response to an Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear program.
In the best-case scenario, he anticipated 400 Israeli fatalities; in the worst case, up to 800—most of them civilians.
In reality, the outcome has been significantly less severe.
To date, only 24 Israelis have lost their lives as a result of the Iranian missile barrages.
This lower-than-expected toll can be attributed to several factors: the public’s adherence to IDF guidelines, including promptly seeking shelter in safe rooms during attacks, and the impressive performance of Israel’s air defense systems.
