Has Iron Dome been breached? Iran claims using ‘new method' to hit Israel; watch missiles in action
Iranian forces unleashed barrage of missiles on Israel early Monday, targeting major cities including Tel Aviv and Haifa, marking a dramatic escalation in tensions between the two regional powers.
The assault damaged residential areas and raised global concerns about the potential for a wider Middle Eastern conflict.
Powerful explosions shook Tel Aviv as Israel's defence systems intercepted Iranian missiles. Plumes of black smoke billowed into the sky over the coastal city.
Iran says 'new method' made attack more effective
Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed to have employed a novel attack method that allegedly caused Israel's multi-layered defence systems to target each other.
"The initiatives and capabilities used in this operation, despite the comprehensive support of the United States and Western powers and the possession of the most up-to-date and newest defence technology, led to the successful and maximum hitting of the missiles on the targets in the occupied territories," it said.
They warned that future operations would be "more devastating, tougher, more precise, and more destructive."
"The arrogant dictator of Tehran has become a cowardly murderer who targets the civilian home front in Israel to deter the IDF from continuing the attack that is collapsing his capabilities," Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement. "The residents of Tehran will pay the price, and soon."
Israel's
Iron Dome
Israel's primary defence mechanism, the Iron Dome, along with other air defence systems, intercepted many of the incoming Iranian missiles.
Military officials reported an "80 to 90% success rate" in intercepting these threats, though they acknowledged that no defence system is completely impenetrable.
The Iron Dome is Israel's sophisticated air defence system, primarily designed to intercept and destroy short-range rockets, mortars, and drones. Developed by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems with American support, this defensive shield became operational in 2011 and has proven highly effective, with Israeli military officials reporting an impressive 80-90% success rate.
The system employs truck-mounted units that fire radar-guided missiles to neutralise incoming threats in mid-air. One of its notable features is its intelligent threat assessment capability - it can determine whether a rocket is headed toward a populated area and only intercepts those that pose a genuine threat, allowing others to land in unpopulated areas.
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