In an unprecedented retaliatory attack launched by Iran over the weekend, hundreds of missiles and drones were deployed primarily from Iranian soil and by Iran-backed groups operating in various other countries. However, Israel's advanced defense systems successfully intercepted nearly all projectiles, resulting in very little damage.

The only known casualty from the attack was a 7-year-old girl who suffered severe injuries from shrapnel. Hailing from a Bedouin village in Israel's southern Negev desert, she continues to fight for her life.

Iran's objective during the assault was to overwhelm Israeli and U.S. air defenses with a barrage of drones and cruise missiles, ultimately enabling the deployment of Iran's ballistic missiles, according to sources familiar with the matter. The drones and missiles, which took several hours to reach Israel, triggered alarms across the country at approximately 2 a.m. local time on Sunday.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that out of the 170 drones launched by Iran, none managed to breach Israeli territory, with Israeli Air Force jets successfully intercepting dozens. U.S. aircraft operating from bases in Saudi Arabia and Jordan also contributed by shooting down around 70 to 80 of the drones. Moreover, none of the more than 30 cruise missiles fired by Iran crossed into Israeli territory, according to the IDF.

Out of the 120 ballistic missiles fired towards Israel from Iran, only five managed to breach defenses and hit Israeli territory. Approximately half of the ballistic missiles experienced failures during launch or crashed during flight. Israel's Nevatim Air Base, housing Israeli F-35s, faced a targeted strike with four missiles, potentially in retaliation for an Israeli airstrike on an Iranian consulate in Syria's capital earlier this month.

Although one ballistic missile hit a runway at the Nevatim Air Base, another landed on an empty airplane hangar, and a third struck a disused hangar, the IDF confirmed that the base remained operational. Furthermore, a radar site in northern Israel narrowly escaped being hit by a ballistic missile that missed its intended target.

In addition to the attack from Iran, several missile launches were reported from Yemen and Iraq. However, none of these weapons crossed into Israeli territory. Lebanon also witnessed dozens of rockets fired towards northern Israel, prompting Israel to carry out airstrikes against Hezbollah targets across Lebanon.

Despite the intensity of the attack, Israel's robust air defense systems effectively thwarted the majority of the missiles and drones, resulting in minimal damage. The situation remains tense as both Iran and Israel continue to assess the consequences and potential future repercussions of the exchange.