Iranian Attacks Damage Nearly 15,000 Homes, Force Thousands to Evacuate

As Iranian missile and drone attacks continue targeting Israeli civilian areas, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced Monday evening that nearly 15,000 homes have already sustained damage. The figure underscores the heavy toll of Iran’s ongoing retaliation amid Israel’s Operation "Rising Lion," while also highlighting the state’s swift and coordinated national response.

According to Smotrich, teams from Israel’s Tax Authority have handled 14,583 separate cases of direct property damage from Iranian strikes. Additionally, 2,775 residents have been evacuated from homes deemed uninhabitable due to extensive damage. At least 24 buildings have been classified for demolition after being hit by Iranian missiles.

The Finance Ministry has deployed 100 teams to handle property damage compensation claims, with 82 of those teams actively working in the field as of Monday. Immediate financial assistance is being provided to those displaced, with each evacuated resident receiving NIS 500 and their respective municipalities receiving NIS 1,500 per evacuee. Many of those forced from their homes are being housed in hotels coordinated by local municipalities.

To further assist impacted citizens, the Tax Authority’s hotline manned by 150 operators has already fielded 12,000 calls since the state of emergency began, maintaining an average wait time of just 10 minutes despite overwhelming demand.

Smotrich outlined a wide range of additional financial measures designed to support both individuals and businesses during this period of national crisis. These include:

• Budget transfers to local municipalities to strengthen emergency services and local infrastructure.

• Extensions on tax reporting deadlines to ease the financial burden on businesses and individuals.

• Trade insurance programs extended to ensure the continuity of Israel’s import and export sectors.

Despite the immense challenges facing the country, Smotrich pointed to Israel’s remarkable economic strength and resilience. On Monday, Israel successfully raised 2.75 billion shekels (approximately $785 million) in a heavily oversubscribed public bond auction an encouraging sign of market confidence in Israel’s financial stability even during wartime.

Smotrich further noted that Israel entered Operation Rising Lion with state income projections revised upward by NIS 21 billion, crediting responsible fiscal management and the underlying strength of Israel’s economy.

“Even in the midst of this existential battle, Israel’s economy remains strong, stable, and fully capable of supporting the state’s military and civilian needs,” Smotrich emphasized.

As Israel continues its wide-ranging military operation against Iran’s nuclear and military capabilities, the government remains equally committed to protecting its civilian population, ensuring rapid recovery for the thousands of families whose lives have been upended by these attacks.

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