Here we go again.

Nearly a year has passed since Israel and Iran first clashed in Operation Rising Lion. Then in April this year they fought once more in Operation Roaring Lion.

This time the third encounter must prove decisive.

Iran probed both the United States and Israel by launching the opening missile salvo on Sunday night. Tehran had threatened missile strikes on Israel if Jerusalem hit Beirut, yet Hezbollah struck first by firing rockets at Kiryat Shmona.

The pattern repeats.

The month-long April war left the Islamic Republic convinced it had prevailed over both the Little and Great Satan. Tehran believed it had faced the two most powerful militaries and emerged stronger, prompting it to seize the initiative this time.

Israel Cannot Ignore Iranian Attacks

Unlike Hamas rocket fire before October 7, Israel cannot overlook Iranian missiles. Ignoring them would shift the balance and hand Tehran the dangerous notion that it can deter Israel rather than the reverse.

In Operation Epic Fury, also called Roaring Lion, the United States and Israel struck first with intense waves against Iran, eliminating the supreme leader in the opening moments.

During the April fighting the allies, especially American forces, expended many advanced interceptors against Iranian missiles and drones. Reports indicate the United States launched more interceptors than Israel.

At the 2025 Air and Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium, Missile Defense Agency director Lt.-Gen. Heath Collins noted that the scale of Iran’s attacks even in 2024 exceeded original system designs.

He credited the long partnership with Israel, highlighting years of joint training at the Israeli Test Bed that proved essential for managing large-scale threats.

Those remarks preceded the later barrage in which Iran launched thousands of missiles and drones at Israel, Gulf states, and American bases, damaging infrastructure and causing American casualties.

An AFA report stated that Iranian fire heavily damaged the Combined Air Operations Center at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the hub for American air campaigns across the Middle East.

Personnel had already relocated to Shaw Air Force Base before the strike, so no one was injured.

Israeli and American forces worked closely throughout the April war, striking deep into Iran and intercepting incoming threats. This coordination stemmed from extensive prior training at the Israel Test Bed operated by Elbit Systems’ Elisra.

The facility, created under the US Strategic Defense Initiative, serves as a full-scale simulator for theater missile defense. It allows evaluation of architectures, battle management, and procedures against simulated ballistic and rocket attacks.

Joint Drills Strengthen Missile Defense

Regular exercises bring American and Israeli troops together to practice defense against Iranian or Houthi-style attacks using THAAD, Patriot, Aegis, Arrow, David’s Sling, and Iron Dome systems.

These drills build familiarity with each other’s doctrine and personal ties that prove vital in combat. Every successful interception rests on years of shared preparation, while shortfalls underscore the value of continued work.

With far fewer interceptors now available to both sides, success will depend on training and technology.