'Everything blown to pieces': Iran strike destroys drone factory, halts operations

Iran strike cripples Israeli defence production facility (Source: X)

An Iranian missile strike has badly damaged a drone manufacturing facility in Petah Tikva, forcing operations to halt and raising concerns about potential disruption to Israel’s defence production.

The site, operated by Aero Sol Aviation Solutions, was hit during the latest escalation, leaving much of the structure in ruins. Company officials said the extent of the damage means work cannot resume at the location, and rebuilding there is unlikely, according to Ynet News.

Aero Sol produces key equipment for Israel’s defence sector, including pilot helmets, bomb components and drones used by the military. The strike caused widespread destruction to machinery, infrastructure and office areas, effectively rendering the facility inoperable.

Reports indicate the missile struck near the factory’s perimeter, leaving a large crater and a broad impact zone. The attack is being seen as part of the wider Iran-Israel escalation, with defence-linked infrastructure increasingly coming under scrutiny.

The incident comes just days after the company was acquired by Valorex in a deal worth around 35 million shekels. Chief executive Israel Vaserlauf said the possibility of deliberate targeting could not be ruled out, noting that publicly available information may have made the site identifiable.

At the same time, he downplayed the likelihood of any internal breach, saying the facility maintained a low profile and was not outwardly recognisable as a defence installation.

Vaserlauf described the scale of the damage as extensive, saying the blast tore through the structure and caused significant losses. However, he noted that some equipment, data, production files and even a few drones were recovered, suggesting the company’s core capabilities remain intact despite the visible destruction.

🇮🇱🇮🇷 Iranian missile strike wiped out an Israeli drone manufacturer.Aero Sol Aviation Solutions factory in Petah Tikva, which supplies pilot helmets, bomb components and drones to the IDF, won't be able to resume operations due to the extensive damage. Source: Ynet https://t.co/3QbWueM52Dpic.twitter.com/MoAndYBsxx

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) April 5, 2026

He added that the factory would need to be fully demolished, with the future of the land to be decided by the property owner. Backed by Valorex, the company is now exploring options to relocate and rebuild operations elsewhere.

The CEO expressed confidence that any disruption to the Israeli military would be temporary, with efforts already under way to restore key production lines within a week through alternative facilities or in coordination with defence partners.

“The blast dismantled the entire structure. Everything was blown to pieces — a total loss. Some equipment survived, a lot of data, production files, computers — all the critical information. We managed to recover a great deal of data and key components, and even some drones survived, along with customer molds. Overall, the damage looks huge, but when you get into the details, our situation is actually not bad,” he said, according to the outlet.

The damage is estimated at around 15 million shekels, including equipment, raw materials and recent investments. Vaserlauf also flagged concerns about compensation timelines, warning that delays in rebuilding and reimbursements could pose financial challenges.

Employees worked through the night to salvage what they could, while the company has informed its clients and received support, including advance payments and assistance from defence manufacturers.

Aero Sol is now set to begin searching for a new site immediately, aiming to restart operations as quickly as possible despite the setback.