Israel deploys its first rocket shield near Gaza

Israel has deployed its latest defence against Palestinian rocket fire. It is called “Iron Drome” and is designed to track and blow up incoming threats in mid-air.

Tests of the rocket shield have been conducted in the wake of a recent flare-up in Gaza border violence.

The first shield has been placed just north of the city of Beersheba which has recently been twice hit by rocked fire. Residents in the city have welcomed the installation.

A Beersheba resident said: “I don’t know if the Iron Drome will work yet. It’s a new system. I don’t think it was ever tried out in real conditions. But I believe it is better than just sirens, so I’m glad they did it.”

But some military hawks have dismissed the system. Last week an Israeli airstrike on Gaza killed two members of Islamic Jihad, the Palestinian group behind much of the recent rocket fire.

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