Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system was activated in response to a significant rocket barrage launched by Hezbollah from Lebanon. As per the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), the Iron Dome successfully intercepted and nullified the damage that could have been caused by a majority of these rockets.

Hezbollah reportedly fired over 300 rockets targeting northern Israel, including cities like Haifa, Kiryat Shmona, and Afula. This attack was part of an ongoing escalation in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

Hezbollah’s attacks were reportedly a retaliation to the IDF’s airstrikes on the hideouts of the Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon, which resulted in the deaths of nearly 500 people, including 35 children and 58 women.

What is the Iron Dome?

Iron Dome was developed in response to the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. During this conflict, Hezbollah launched thousands of rockets into Israel, causing significant damage and resulting in the deaths of dozens of citizens. In response, Israel committed to developing a new missile defense shield.

Iron Dome was created by Israeli firms Rafael Advanced Defense Systems (RADS) and Israel Aerospace Industries, with some support from the United States. The system was successfully used in combat in 2011, when it intercepted a missile fired from the Gaza Strip, which had been under Hamas control since 2007.

The concept and development of Iron Dome were driven by the Lebanon war of 2006, during which Hezbollah allegedly launched approximately 4,000 rockets into northern Israel. The system is specifically designed to intercept and destroy short-range rockets and mortars fired from Gaza or southern Lebanon using guided missiles.

Israel claims that the Iron Dome has intercepted over 5,000 rockets with an impressive success rate exceeding 90%, saving countless lives since its deployment in 2011.

According to the Defence company’s website, this system is capable of providing simultaneous protection against a broad spectrum of increasingly diverse threats, including air-breathing threats, SHORAD (Short-Range Air Defense), C-RAM (Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar), and PGM (Precision-Guided Munitions) threats. It operates effectively in high-density salvos, day and night, and in all weather conditions.

Variants

The Iron Dome system includes C-Dome, a naval version designed to protect maritime assets, and I-Dome, a mobile version providing critical mobility and flexibility. These variants enable an end-to-end air defense solution, protecting land, maneuvering, and maritime forces, as well as strategic assets and civilian population centers. Iron Dome can function as a standalone system or as part of a multilayer air defense system.

Iron Dome differentiates between threats on a trajectory to hit targets within defended areas and those that will fall into open fields or the sea. By responding only to threats headed toward defended areas, it limits the number of interceptor launches, significantly reducing costs.

Even the US announced its plans to buy two batteries from the Iron Dome system in 2019 as an interim solution to fill gaps in the US Army’s short-range air defense capabilities while a more comprehensive system is developed.

The U.S. Marine Corps reportedly has plans to acquire three batteries worth of Iron Dome systems, which include 44 launchers and 1,840 Tamir interceptors. The Tamir interceptors are the missiles used by the Iron Dome to intercept and destroy incoming threats. They have a unique warhead that detonates the target warhead in the air.

Southern Israel has also faced continuous rocket and mortar fire from Palestinian militants. The Israeli Defense Forces reported that more than 8,000 rockets have been fired at Israel since the October 7, 2023 attacks. While Iron Dome has successfully intercepted many of these threats, some rockets have evaded the system and struck built-up areas, causing several deaths and injuries. For instance, on October 27, 2024, a rocket hit an apartment building in Tel Aviv, injuring four people.

Israel confirms death of top-ranking Hezbollah commander

Ibrahim Kobeissi, a high-ranking commander in Hezbollah’s missile and rocket unit, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on September 24, 2024. The strike occurred in a southern suburb of Beirut, a known stronghold for Hezbollah. Kobeissi played a crucial role in orchestrating rocket attacks against Israel and was involved in significant military operations, including the incident in the year 2000, where three Israeli soldiers were kidnapped and killed by the Hezbollah.