Iran’s missile barrages had forced Israelis to confront a nightmare their leaders long dismissed: the much‑hyped David’s Sling was not a magic wall. After celebrated test kills and boasts of 90% interception, the system reportedly failed over Dimona and Arad, with mid‑range missiles and cluster warheads slipping through and leaving wounded civilians and cratered streets. Commanders quietly admitted they were juggling Arrow, THAAD, David’s Sling and Iron Dome shot‑by‑shot, trying not to waste million‑shekel interceptors, even as engineers warned of radar glitches and low‑altitude debris. For residents under the sirens, statistics no longer felt reassuring.