Israel weekly preview: missile fire declines but endgame unclear as pressure on Iran rises; budget deadline and key economic data ahead

ISRAEL - In Brief 06 Mar 2026 by Sani Ziv

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A difficult week has passed for Israel since early Saturday morning, when the second Israel-Iran war began. For most of the week, large parts of the economy were effectively shut down, and missile launches toward Israel from Iran and later from Hezbollah sent Israelis repeatedly to shelters throughout the week. At the same time, what matters most is the trend, and this week missile launches toward Israel have declined significantly. Over the past 48 hours, although several barrages were launched toward Israel, the overall volume of fire has been lower, with some barrages consisting of only one or two missiles. This has improved interception rates and reduced the overall risk. The chart below compares daily missile launches toward Israel during Operation “Rising Lion” in June 2025 and the current war in February–March 2026. Missile fire in 2025 was significantly higher, while in the current war it rapidly declined, falling from about 90 launches to around 20 per day within a few days. Missile launches toward Israel: Operation “Rising Lion” (2025) vs. the second Israel–Iran war (2026)Source: Israeli media reports.These figures are supported by statements from senior defense officials in both Israel and the United States, including press briefings by the chiefs of staff of both militaries, indicating that large parts of Iran’s launch capabilities have been destroyed. Against this backdrop, on Thursday, the government announced a partial return to work, subject to restrictions requiring proximity to protected spaces. Economic activity is gradually resuming, and schools are expected to reopen next week, although for now many are expected to operate through remote learning. ...