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| How Israel's Iron Dome missile shield works | How Israel's Iron Dome missile shield works |
| (2 days later) | |
| Streaks of light are seen as Israel's Iron Dome system intercepts rockets launched from Gaza | Streaks of light are seen as Israel's Iron Dome system intercepts rockets launched from Gaza |
| Some of the worst violence seen in years in Israel and Gaza has led to dramatic images of confrontation across the region's skies. | Some of the worst violence seen in years in Israel and Gaza has led to dramatic images of confrontation across the region's skies. |
| More than 3,000 rockets have been fired towards Israel by Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups in the past week. | |
| But about 90% of the rockets have been intercepted by its flagship Iron Dome missile defence system, according to the Israeli military. | But about 90% of the rockets have been intercepted by its flagship Iron Dome missile defence system, according to the Israeli military. |
| The Iron Dome was specially designed to protect against a range of incoming short-range threats. | The Iron Dome was specially designed to protect against a range of incoming short-range threats. |
| The system has its roots in the war Israel fought with Lebanon's militant Hezbollah movement in 2006, when thousands of rockets were launched into Israel - causing huge damage, mass evacuations and dozens of deaths. | The system has its roots in the war Israel fought with Lebanon's militant Hezbollah movement in 2006, when thousands of rockets were launched into Israel - causing huge damage, mass evacuations and dozens of deaths. |
| After that Israel said a new missile defence shield would be developed. | After that Israel said a new missile defence shield would be developed. |
| Created by Israeli firms Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries with some US support, the Iron Dome became operational in 2011. | Created by Israeli firms Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries with some US support, the Iron Dome became operational in 2011. |
| Considered among the most advanced defence systems in the word, the Iron Dome uses radar to identify and destroy incoming threats before they can cause damage. | Considered among the most advanced defence systems in the word, the Iron Dome uses radar to identify and destroy incoming threats before they can cause damage. |
| The strength and limitations of Hamas' arsenal | The strength and limitations of Hamas' arsenal |
| The all-weather system was specially designed to help combat shorter-range rudimentary weapons like the rockets fired from Gaza. | The all-weather system was specially designed to help combat shorter-range rudimentary weapons like the rockets fired from Gaza. |
| The Iron Dome was expensive to develop but manufacturers say it is cost-effective because of technology it uses to differentiate between missiles likely to hit built-up areas and those that won't. Static and mobile units only launch interceptor missiles to shoot-down anything interpreted as dangerous. | The Iron Dome was expensive to develop but manufacturers say it is cost-effective because of technology it uses to differentiate between missiles likely to hit built-up areas and those that won't. Static and mobile units only launch interceptor missiles to shoot-down anything interpreted as dangerous. |
| (November 2012) The BBC's Ben Brown describes how Israel's Iron Dome works | (November 2012) The BBC's Ben Brown describes how Israel's Iron Dome works |
| A decade since the Iron Dome became operational, Israel now has 10 batteries deployed across the country, each with three to four launchers that can fire 20 interceptor missiles. | A decade since the Iron Dome became operational, Israel now has 10 batteries deployed across the country, each with three to four launchers that can fire 20 interceptor missiles. |
| "The number of Israelis killed and wounded would be far higher if it had not been for the Iron Dome system, which has been a life saver as it always is," Israeli military spokesman Lt Col Jonathan Conricus said this week. | "The number of Israelis killed and wounded would be far higher if it had not been for the Iron Dome system, which has been a life saver as it always is," Israeli military spokesman Lt Col Jonathan Conricus said this week. |
| But some analysts say the intensity of recent barrages from Gaza suggests militant groups are attempting to overwhelm the Iron Dome - raising concerns about the system's possible limitations. | But some analysts say the intensity of recent barrages from Gaza suggests militant groups are attempting to overwhelm the Iron Dome - raising concerns about the system's possible limitations. |