The last regional war did not only expose the military confrontation between Iran and Israel — it also revealed a very different battlefield than the one publicly advertised.
While Iran presented the conflict as a direct struggle against Israel, reports and regional assessments indicate that the overwhelming majority of Iranian missile and drone activity actually impacted Arab countries across the Gulf, as well as Jordan and Iraq.
According to estimates cited in the reports, during one phase of the escalation Iran launched roughly 500 ballistic missiles toward Israel, many of which were intercepted by Israeli air defenses. However, analysts claim that nearly 85% of Iran’s overall attacks during the 33-day conflict were directed toward Arab states, while only 15% targeted Israel directly.
The UAE reportedly absorbed the largest volume of attacks, with claims that more than 2,700 Iranian missiles and drones were directed at Emirati territory during the war. Airports, ports, and major economic infrastructure across Gulf states were reportedly targeted.