Haifa Burns, Tel Aviv Bleeds: Israel’s Safe Cities Are No Longer Safe

June 25, 2025

Israel was unable to protect its own homeland even though it controlled Iran’s airspace. Previously untouchable cities like Tel Aviv and Haifa were destroyed by Iran’s missile attack.

The Shock of Reversal: Safe Cities Became War Zones

Ironically, the previously safe and well-defended cities ended up being the most vulnerable. They struck Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, Holon, Bat Yam, Nes Ziona, Be’er Sheva, and Haifa. Iran purposefully targeted large urban centres, leaving smaller, less fortified towns unaffected.

Missile Power: Iran’s New Edge

Israel’s Iron Dome and other defences were overpowered by Iran’s use of ballistic and hypersonic missiles. Anil Trigunayat, a former diplomat, likened the destruction in Israeli cities to the aftermath of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, but with Israel on the receiving end.

Hamas and Hezbollah vs Iran: A Clear Difference

Previously, Israel had managed to intercept and limit damage from Hamas (from Gaza) and Hezbollah (from Lebanon):

Group	Launch Region	Targeted Israeli Regions	Cities Commonly Hit
Hamas	Gaza Strip	Southern & Central Israel	Ashdod, Ashkelon, Sderot
Hezbollah	South Lebanon	Northern Israel	Kiryat Shmona, Metula, Nahariya, Safed

In contrast, Iran’s long-range missiles struck deep into Israeli territory, focusing on symbolic and strategic cities rather than border towns.

Changing Enemy, Changing Battlefield

This war proved that changing the adversary changed the entire nature of destruction. Previously secure cities turned into battlegrounds. For the first time, Israel saw the kind of large-scale damage inside its core cities that it once inflicted elsewhere.

A Wake-Up Call for Israel’s Security Doctrine

The conflict forced Israeli defense experts to re-evaluate their systems. If Iran could cause this level of destruction from afar, then no city is truly safe. As Trigunayat noted, in a head-to-head war, Iran can now inflict real, large-scale damage inside Israel—at any time.

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Author

Kunal Verma

🖋️ Journalist | Storyteller | Researcher | Geopolitics Analyst

From newsroom chaos to the calm of a blinking cursor, Kunal Verma has spent over five years navigating the ever-evolving world of journalism. With bylines across Bharat 24, Republic World, Jagran, and more, he’s told stories that matter—be it boardroom battles in the business world, high-stakes foreign affairs, or ground reports that hit home. When he’s not chasing headlines, Kunal can be found crafting tweets with too many drafts or sipping strong coffee.

🗣️ Fluent in Hindi & English
🔗 Follow him on Twitter: @thekunalverma
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