Part 3/10:
The United States has been augmenting Israel's defenses by deploying Patriot missile batteries and THAAD systems, but even U.S. stocks are reportedly being depleted at an accelerated rate. U.S. and Israeli intelligence estimate that, at current usage, Israel's missile defense systems could only be fully operational for another 10 to 12 days.
To complicate matters further, Iran has begun employing more advanced weaponry, including two-stage long-range ballistic missiles and hypersonic missiles such as the Fatah 1, masters of maneuverability that are particularly challenging for existing missile defense systems. The use of hypersonic technology significantly reduces the response time for interceptors, increasing the likelihood of missiles breaching defenses.