In an exclusive interview with People’s Gazettean Israel Defense Forces (IDF) official stated that most of the missiles fired by Iran since the start of the ongoing war in the Middle East have been directed against civilian areas, including neighborhoods, cities and towns in different regions of Israel. According to him, the attacks have mainly affected residential areas and caused victims among the population.
Colonel M. (per IDF protocol, his full name was not given), commander of the Jerusalem and Central Districts in Israel’s Home Front Command, led the rescue operations in Beit Shemesh, a city where civilians were affected at the beginning of the conflict. In this area, on March 1, an Iranian ballistic missile fell in the middle of a residential neighborhood, destroying houses and leaving nine people dead.
According to M., the projectile directly hit an inhabited area, including a reinforced structure used as a shelter. He reported that, at that moment, Israeli teams had to identify victims, remove residents from the rubble and provide assistance to the affected population. Israeli authorities and the Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency service said that in addition to the dead, the attack also left dozens injured, the majority of them civilians. The missile caused the collapse of buildings and a rescue operation that lasted hours.
“We had to take care of the entire population that was there,” said M. about the rescue operation. The bombing was one of the most serious episodes recorded in Israeli territory since the beginning of the war.
Most of Iran’s attacks are being launched against civilian areas
According to the colonel, Iran’s attacks on Israeli neighborhoods and cities have been recurrent since the beginning of the conflict and most target civilian areas. For him, Iran’s objective in this conflict is to attack the Israeli civilian population.
“Iran has the power to launch missiles wherever it wants. Many of the missiles are being launched into civilian areas, in various cities, from the north to the south. Most were launched against neighborhoods, cities and towns,” said M.
Data released by Israeli authorities indicates that, since the start of the war, at least 12 civilians have died in Iranian missile attacks.
Military report points to use of cluster bombs
A report released by the Israel Defense Forces indicated that part of the Iranian attacks carried out against Israeli territory may have involved the use of cluster bombs, a type of warhead that spreads multiple submunitions over a large area and increases the risk to civilians. According to military assessment, these warheads can launch dozens of smaller explosives within a radius of several kilometers, indiscriminately hitting buildings, vehicles and people.
The Home Front Command stated that this type of weaponry poses a high risk to the population and reinforced the need for Israeli residents to follow security instructions during attack alerts. The use of this type of ammunition in inhabited areas may constitute a violation of the international rules of war, as it does not distinguish between military and civilian targets.
According to M., the attacks on residential areas are part of an attempt to put pressure on Israel during the war, directly affecting the population.
“They understand that the civilian population is our most fragile part, so they try to attack there. But the population is organized, follows the guidelines of the Home Front Command, and this has prevented a greater number of deaths and injuries”, he stated.
M. said that a large part of the units mobilized for Israel’s internal defense are currently made up of reservists who left their civilian activities to return to military service during the war.
“I’m from the reserve army. I’m not a colonel on a day-to-day basis. I’m here with my entire unit, who are reservists who gave up everything to fulfill a mission, which is to defend our State and save lives”, he stated. “We are ready to stay here as long as necessary to fulfill our mission and defend our homeland,” he said.
The officer also said that he has family members in Brazil who are following the war with concern. “I have family in Brazil, everyone is very worried, but they need to know that we are here strong and prepared,” he declared.
Iran is a threat to the whole world
The Israeli official stated that the threat posed by Iran is not limited to Israeli territory.
“This threat [do Irã] it is not just a threat to the State of Israel. We also saw missiles being launched towards Cyprus, Turkey and Gulf countries. Iran is not just a threat to Israel, it is a threat to the Middle East as a whole and to the entire world,” he said.
Since the beginning of the conflict, Iranian drones and missiles have hit several Gulf countries, causing casualties and damage to civilian and strategic installations. Authorities recorded attacks and security incidents in different parts of the region, including explosions near urban areas, diplomatic installations and military structures in the Gulf, Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries. NATO forces also shot down Iranian missiles launched into Turkish airspace and Iranian drones crashed at European bases in Cyprus.
Civil defense in Israel and preparedness for attacks
In the interview, Colonel M. stated that Israel has maintained a permanent system of preparation for years to protect the civilian population in the event of war, with joint action between the Defense Forces, local authorities and emergency services. According to him, the structure was built during different conflicts faced by the country in recent decades.
“It is not the first time that the Israeli civilian population has been attacked. It has already happened with Hamas, from Gaza, then with Hezbollah, from Lebanon, and now with Iran. It has been work for years that we have done together with city halls, municipalities, government bodies and with the population itself”, he stated.
According to the official, preparation includes constant training of the population for emergency situations, with clear guidance on how to act during missile or drone attacks.
“Children learn from an early age what to do when the alarm rings. They know that they need to go to the bunker, stay protected and follow the instructions of the Home Front Command. The more the population respects these guidelines, the more lives we can save”, he said.
According to the officer, the main mission of the Home Front Command, which he leads, during this conflict is to reduce the number of civilian casualties, even in the face of frequent attacks against urban areas.
“Our mission is to save lives, and that is what we are doing,” he said.
The objectives in the war against Iran and the threat from Hezbollah
Asked about the objectives of the war against Iran and whether the operation is aligned with the goals announced by the United States – such as the destruction of Iran’s ballistic capacity and the weakening of the nuclear program – M. stated that there are common interests between the two countries and that, on Israel’s part, operations must continue until all objectives are completed.
“I know that we and the Americans have many interests together, and for us, at least, until we complete all the objectives, we are ready to stay and do whatever is necessary,” he said.
Regarding Hezbollah, the official reported that the terrorist group today not only represents a threat to the State of Israel, but also to Lebanon itself. He stated that, even after ceasefire agreements, the terrorist organization tried to rearm and regain its military capacity.
The official added that the existence of an armed group with its own military structure within Lebanese territory is a problem for the Lebanese government itself.
“I think it is not a normal situation to have a parallel army within a sovereign state,” said M.
