Effigies of Trump and Netanyahu at a rally in Tehran<\/p>\n
It appears the main topic of discussion at Wednesday\u2019s meeting between Donald Trump and Bibi Netanyahu was Iran\u2019s ballistic missile program. It really was not a discussion\u2026 Instead it was Bibi, with his advisers, trying to sell Trump and his team on the necessity of ending Iran\u2019s ballistic missile capability. Why the emphasis on those missiles when, until recently, the big concern was whether Iran could build a nuclear bomb? The US and Israeli narrative about Iran\u2019s missile and drone strikes in Israel during the 12-day war in June 2025 insists that Iran did little damage and that the combined might of US and Israeli air-defense systems knocked down 90% of the Iranian ballistic missiles. If that was true, why is Netanyahu pressing Trump touting on the need for Iran to eliminate its ballistic missile force?<\/p>\n
I have the answer\u2026 We need only look at the damage Iran\u2019s ballistic missiles caused in Israel during the 12-day war in June 2025<\/strong> \u2014 based on reporting and independent analyses of the conflict (much of the detailed damage was initially censored or not fully disclosed by Israeli authorities<\/strong>, but independent and foreign sources have provided information).<\/p>\n Iran launched more than 1,000 ballistic missiles<\/strong> toward Israel over the 12 days, often in large salvos that overwhelmed the Israeli and US air defenses. Israel\u2019s multilayered missile defense systems intercepted some, but a significant number still penetrated<\/strong> and struck targets. Hundreds of buildings<\/em> in major cities such as Tel Aviv suburbs (Bat Yam, Ramat Gan)<\/strong> were damaged \u2014 with some buildings so badly hit they were later demolished. In Tel Aviv alone, analysts mapped damage to around 480 buildings<\/strong> <\/a>across multiple strike sites.<\/p>\n Iranian missiles damaged key public facilities, such as theSoroka Medical Center<\/strong> in Be\u2019er Sheva, which was hit by an Iranian missile, causing structural damage and chemical leaks; the affected wing was evacuated. Power and water infrastructure also were hit, contributing to service disruptions.<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s ballistic strikes hit high-value facilities as well. The Weizmann Institute of Science<\/strong> (a major research institution in Rehovot) was severely damaged \u2014 with an estimated 90% of structures affected<\/strong>, destruction of dozens of labs, and suspension of about 25% of its operations<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Independent radar data and reporting showed that Iranian missiles directly hit around five Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) facilities<\/strong>, including an air base, intelligence center, and logistics base. Israeli authorities did not publicly confirm these hits at the time, due to military censorship. Israeli oil refining infrastructure \u2014 especially in Haifa Bay \u2014 also suffered direct hits and damage from Iranian missiles<\/strong>, including to critical units and pipelines at the Bazan refinery and associated casualties. The strike on the Bazan oil refinery complex in Haifa Bay<\/strong>, one of Israel\u2019s most important energy facilities, heavily damaged the power generation unit<\/strong> and other infrastructure critical for operation.<\/p>\n Wednesday\u2019s meeting between Trump and Netanyahu lasted nearly three hours (longer than scheduled) and, according to Israeli media<\/a>, also included US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, Israel\u2019s ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, Military Secretary Maj.-Gen. Roman Gofman, acting director of the National Security Council Gil Reich, Michael Eisenberg, Ziv Agmon, and advisor Ofir Falk.<\/p>\n So what did President Trump and Bibi talk about on Wednesday. According to the Jerusalem Post<\/em><\/a>:<\/p>\n [T}he prime minister presented intelligence on Iran\u2019s military buildup<\/a>, including developments related to its ballistic missile program. He also conveyed the message that if Trump decides to strike Iran, the operation should include targeting the ballistic missile project as well.<\/p>\n