In a recent rocket attack on Israel by Hamas militants on October 7, a rocket struck an Israeli military base believed to be housing the country's nuclear-capable missiles, according to a visual analysis by The New York Times. While the missiles themselves were not directly hit, the impact sparked a fire that approached sensitive weaponry and missile storage facilities.

The base hit, known as Sdot Micha, is located in central Israel and is said to house 25 to 50 nuclear-capable Jericho missile launchers, according to Hans Kristensen, director of the Federation of American Scientists' Nuclear Information Project. Israeli whistleblowers, U.S. officials, and satellite imagery analysts have all acknowledged the existence of Israel's nuclear arsenal.

Although the specific warheads are kept in a separate location away from the base and were not under threat during the attack, the targeting of Sdot Micha highlights the extent of the October 7 attacks and the ability of rockets to penetrate Israel's highly secured strategic weapons.

The attack on Sdot Micha involved multiple rockets over several hours, with the exact number intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome air defense system unclear. In some instances across the country, Iron Dome was overwhelmed or ran out of interceptor missiles. The New York Times was able to identify the fire caused by the rocket attack using NASA satellite imagery for detecting wildfires, with no similar fire reported since 2004.

Publicly available satellite imagery, rocket alarm records, and social media posts further confirmed the attack on Sdot Micha and the subsequent firefighting efforts. The rocket struck within the base premises, close to a Jericho missile facility, a radar system, and an air defense missile battery. The fire quickly spread through the dry vegetation, but firefighters managed to contain it and prevent it from reaching the launchers.

While attacks on bases housing nuclear weapons are rare, this incident marks a unique occurrence, according to Gary Ackerman, one of the researchers who established a database tracking attacks on nuclear facilities worldwide. Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups typically target Israeli towns and cities close to Gaza, but the attack on Sdot Micha demonstrates a willingness to hit sensitive military installations.

Despite the fire burning around 40 acres at the base, the weaponry and equipment remained unharmed. Kristensen emphasized the potential risks involved in a fire of this magnitude being near volatile fuel and munition depots, noting that precautions need to be taken to prevent any mishaps.

The Israeli military has not commented on The New York Times' findings, but since October 7, new defensive measures including earthen berms and barriers have been constructed around military positions near the rocket impact location.

As tensions continue to escalate between Israel and militant groups, the incident at Sdot Micha serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat faced by both sides and the potential for further attacks on critical military infrastructure.