The Iron Dome, Israel’s most advanced defense system, has garnered attention once again as a video showcasing its remarkable capabilities in intercepting hundreds of rockets during the recent Hamas offensive has emerged. The video, reportedly filmed in Zikim, highlights the Iron Dome’s ability to intercept rockets in the air, neutralizing them and preventing casualties.
During one of the most unprecedented operations, Hamas, a Palestinian militant organization, fired more than 5,000 rockets at Israel from the Gaza Strip while its militants breached Israel’s borders, resulting in civilian and military casualties. The ongoing conflict has claimed the lives of at least 1,000 people, including casualties from both the Hamas militant attacks and Israel’s retaliation.
The gun battle between Hamas and Israel continued throughout the night, with the darkened sky frequently illuminated by the relentless streaks of rockets. Despite the Iron Dome’s effectiveness in intercepting many of the incoming threats, Hamas managed to breach Israel’s defenses and strike some targets within Israeli territory, escalating the conflict significantly.
What Is the Iron Dome System and How Does It Work?
The Iron Dome is a ground-to-air short-range air defense system designed to intercept and destroy incoming missiles, rockets, and even Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in mid-air. It has been in operation in Israel since 2011 and is strategically deployed across the country for defense against such threats. The system boasts an impressive range of 70 kilometers.
During the recent Hamas attack, the Detection and Tracking radar inside the Iron Dome played a crucial role. It detected the rockets in the air and transmitted this information to the weapons control system, which quickly calculated the trajectory and potential target of the incoming threat. Once identified, the system launched Tamir Missiles to intercept and destroy the threat mid-air, as vividly seen in the viral video.
How Did Hamas Manage to Breach the Iron Dome Cover?
Despite the Iron Dome’s effectiveness in destroying a significant number of incoming rockets and preventing countless casualties, it faced an overwhelming barrage of 5,000 rockets from Hamas within a span of just 20 minutes. While the defense system successfully intercepted and destroyed many of these rockets, a few still managed to breach its protective cover and strike Israeli territory.
Hamas claimed to have fired 5,000 rockets during the conflict, while Israel reported approximately 3,000 incoming projectiles. Some of these rockets evaded the Iron Dome missile defense system and struck buildings, including those in Tel Aviv.
The recent conflict underscores the complex challenges faced by both sides in the Israel-Gaza conflicts and the significance of defense systems like the Iron Dome in mitigating the impact of rocket attacks on civilian populations.