The scale of spending has led economists to warn that this war is “far more costly” than previous conflicts in Gaza.

On Friday, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) published an article showing that Israel is spending up to US$200 million per day on its anti-missile system operations, a cost that could seriously constrain the duration of its conflict with Iran.

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Since clashes began on June 13, Iran has launched more than 400 ballistic missiles at Israeli territory, forcing Tel Aviv to deploy its air defense systems—Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow 3—in operations that consume US$200 million daily just in interceptions.

Each interception with the Arrow system costs US$4 million, while David’s Sling requires US$700,000 per minimum activation, according to Yehoshua Kalisky, a researcher at Tel Aviv’s Institute for National Security Studies.

The Iranian missiles that do get through wreak havoc. One of the most symbolic targets was the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, considered Israel’s MIT. The June 14 attack destroyed three main buildings and damaged 45 laboratories, with estimated losses at US$570 million.

“It’s not just the infrastructure—years of research, irreplaceable samples and rare materials were lost,” an institute spokesperson said.

In Haifa, the Bazan oil complex, responsible for 60% of the country’s diesel and half of its gasoline, was hit on June 16, rendering it inoperable and killing three workers. Additionally, 15,000 homes have been damaged, according to Israel’s Tax Authority, which has already recorded 9,900 compensation claims.

How Long Can Israel Sustain the Conflict?

The scale of spending has led economists to warn that this war is “far more costly” than previous conflicts with Gaza or Hezbollah. “The key factor is duration. If it extends a month, the cost could reach US$12 billion,” said Karnit Flug, former governor of the Bank of Israel.

The pressure isn’t just internal. International companies like Maersk have suspended operations at Haifa’s port due to attack risks, and key sectors like energy face paralysis.

While Israel’s financial markets remain stable, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government faces a dilemma: continue the campaign to weaken Iran’s nuclear program or seek a quick exit amid mounting financial strain.

As Iranian missiles continue to hit their targets, Israel is fighting a battle on two fronts: military and economic. With damages exceeding US$277 million in just three days and a defense system draining resources at an unsustainable rate, time is working against the Zionist state.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: WSJ

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