Iran has fired over a thousand rockets at Israeli civilian centers while Israel has refrained from targeting neighborhoods where regime elites live.

By Hezy Laing

In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran over the past year a stark contrast has emerged in strategies.

While IDF strikes have aimed to degrade Iranian military, nuclear, and strategic capabilities, Iranian missile attacks have consistently targeted Israeli civilian population centers, leading to significant civilian casualties and displacement.

Iran’s Targeting of Civilians

For example, on March 1, 2026, an Iranian ballistic missile struck a residential neighborhood in Beit Shemesh, Israel, killing nine people and injuring over 40.

The missile destroyed a synagogue and a public bomb shelter, causing massive destruction.

Another significant incident occurred on March 17, 2026, when an Iranian missile with a cluster warhead struck a residential building in Ramat Gan, killing two residents in their 70s.

Reports indicate that throughout this period, over 20 Israeli civilians and foreign nationals were killed in Iranian attacks, with over 5,500 citizens displaced due to widespread damage to homes.

According to reports tracking the 2026 strikes, Iranian attacks frequently utilized cluster munitions and ballistic missiles aimed at cities rather than just remote military infrastructure.

In April 2026, an Iranian missile directly hit a residential building in Haifa, killing four family members, including a 10-month-old baby, and injuring several others.

Israel’s Targeting of Military Infrastructure

Conversely, Israeli strikes have been directed against Iran’s defense industrial base and military installations.

The IDF focused on “degrading, destroying, and removing the threat” of Iran’s nuclear and missile programs.

Examples include the destruction of Iran’s remaining air defense radars following an April 2026 attack.

Furthermore, Israeli strikes targeted the Taleghan 2 facility at the Parchin military complex and key missile storage buildings.

Strikes also aimed at petrochemical complexes and fuel depots to reduce economic capacity, rather than residential areas, including the targeting of the IRGC-linked metallic uranium production facility.

The very different tactics used by the two countries perfectly exemplify the justice of each one’s cause.