Israel-Iran live: Eight killed in Israel as Iran breaches Iron Dome; Tehran preparing to leave key nuclear treaty

Sky News

16-06-2025

Explained: What is Israel's Iron Dome?
Israel's Iron Dome defence system was penetrated overnight as Iran launched renewed airstrikes, with at least eight people killed and nearly 300 injured.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed to have used a new attack method that caused the multi-layered defence system to target itself.
"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.
But what is the Iron Dome and how does it work?
The Iron Dome is Israel's highly prized air defence system.
It uses radar to detect and intercept aerial attacks targeting the country.
Mobile launchers and 'battle management centres'
It was developed by Israel's state-owned Rafael Advanced Defence Systems with US support.
It consists of a series of truck-towed mobile units placed throughout the country.
When their radars detect a threat, the information is sent to a "battle management centre" where military personnel analyse it, anticipating its path and impact point, and decide which missile launcher to use to intercept it.
Counter missiles are then fired directly at the threat - or near it - so the shrapnel can neutralise it.
The dome, known as Kippat Barzel in Hebrew, reacts within a matter of seconds and is manned 24 hours a day.
Originally, it was designed to protect cities and strategic sites against missiles with a range of 2.5 to 43 miles, but it is thought to have been expanded.
More than 90% effective
It has blocked more than 90% of rockets fired towards Israel, with a naval version deployed to protect ships and other assets in 2017.
This is at least partly why the number of Israeli deaths in the current fighting with Iran and Hamas has remained relatively low.
Soon after it began operating, it became the envy of other militaries.
Rafael says it has supplied at least two Iron Dome batteries to the US army, with Ukraine having made a similar request.
Saturation point unknown
Although extremely effective, it is not perfect.
Overnight, a number of cities in Israel were hit by Iranian strikes, leading to several deaths, with more people trapped under the rubble.
The dome also has a saturation point at which it would become overwhelmed, but this level is unknown.
When fighting between Hamas and Israel broke out on 7 October 2023, 3,000 rockets were fired from Gaza at once.
Israel also has medium and long-range defence systems, known as David's Sling, Patriot and Arrow.