BICOM

The Israeli Air Force yesterday deployed the third Iron Dome missile defence system outside the southern coastal city of Ashdod. Rockets have bombarded Ashdod in recent weeks during the escalation of violence in the South in which more than 160 rockets were fired from Gaza. “The deployment is part of a national emergency plan that I announced several weeks ago and is a demonstration of Israel’s commitment to defend its citizens from rockets and missiles,” Defence Minister Ehud Barak said yesterday. The Israel Defence Force managed to finish the deployment ahead of next week’s deadline and just in time for the start of the school year, which begins today.

The anti-missile system joined two others stationed in the South – one outside Ashkelon and one near Beersheba – that during the recent escalation successfully intercepted a few dozen rockets fired from Gaza. The first two Iron Dome batteries have proven themselves in combat, intercepting both short-range and Katyusha rockets from Gaza. With six new anti-missile systems scheduled to be deployed by the end of 2012, the security situation could improve in the south.

Each battery consists of three launchers equipped with 20 Tamir interceptors and is reportedly capable of protecting an urban area of approximately 150 square kilometers.