Israelis Forced Underground as Iranian Missile Threat Escalates Amid Gov’t Unpreparedness

Since Israel launched airstrikes against key Iranian nuclear and military assets on June 13, the retaliatory missile and drone barrages from Tehran have exposed critical vulnerabilities in civilian defense infrastructure. Hundreds of missiles have rained down on Israeli cities, forcing thousands to seek refuge in underground train stations and other ad hoc shelters.

In Tel Aviv and neighboring Ramat Gan, it is not military bunkers but public transit stations—darkened and unused due to the war—that have become makeshift overnight refuges. Families with young children, foreign workers living in poorly protected housing, and ordinary citizens carry mattresses, sleeping bags, pets, and provisions into these crowded subterranean spaces each night.

This mass movement reveals a troubling truth: despite ongoing missile threats from Iran for years, many residents lack access to adequate reinforced shelters. Government-mandated bomb-resistant safe rooms are often absent or insufficient in older buildings and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. Recent ballistic missiles exceed the protective standards that Israeli civil defenses were built around.

Systemic Failures Force Civilian Displacement

Take Babu Chinabery, an Indian health aide who has lived in Israel for a decade. He told reporters he feels compelled to sleep underground because the current missiles “are so strong” that his apartment’s protections are inadequate. His situation is emblematic of a broader failure to ensure equitable shelter access across communities—a gap particularly apparent in Arab areas and among foreign worker populations.

The dismal state of alternative shelters further compounds these failures. Tel Aviv’s Central Bus Station atomic shelter sits mostly abandoned due to poor conditions—rat infestations, water leaks—deterring use even during crisis. Meanwhile, local mutual aid groups try to fill gaps with tents erected inside parking garages, but such measures remain stopgap at best.

Policy Implications: America Must Learn From Israel’s Reality

This unfolding crisis underscores the urgent need for robust civil defense preparedness against modern missile threats—not just for Israel but for every free nation facing hostile regimes like Iran’s tyrannical regime. As Washington prioritizes national security funding amid rising global tensions, lawmakers should take note: effective protection requires infrastructure investment down to the neighborhood level.

The Israeli government must also be held accountable for ensuring citizens’ safety beyond offensive military operations. While targeting Iranian nuclear sites may be necessary to safeguard regional stability, it cannot come at the expense of leaving civilians exposed domestically.

Conclusion

Israelis willingly endure nights in crowded train stations because they see no safer alternative—a reality that should alarm policymakers who champion national sovereignty and freedom under threat from aggressive regimes. This crisis demands clear-eyed accountability from leaders and renewed focus on practical civil defense measures that protect all citizens equally.