Iron Dome destroys Grad rocket headed for Beersheba - Iron Dome works in combat, intercepts Katyusha rocket

Earlier, counter-rocket defense system shoots down 4 rockets launched at Ashkelon; Barak: Successful interception is "extraordinary achievement."

The Iron Dome counter-rocket defense system on Friday overnight intercepted a Grad rocket fired from Gaza toward Beersheba. 

Three people were lightly injured while trying to run to a nearby bomb shelter after the rocket siren went off. 


Earlier, Iron Dome intercepted four rockets that were launched towards Ashkelon.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak praised the successful interception by the missile defense system of three Kassam rockets that were fired towards Ashkelon in the afternoon. Barak said that it was "an extraordinary achievement for the IDF."


He said that the system will continue to be used but to keep in mind that complete solution is still far from being reached.

On Friday afternoon, police said that the defense system intercepted three of four rockets launched towards Ashkelon and the fourth rocket exploded in the industrial area in the south of the city.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rocket defense system sees first operational success south of Ashkelon; Follows heavy barrage of rockets, mortars from Gaza Strip.

The Iron Dome counter-rocket defense system intercepted a Grad-model Katyusharocket fired from the Gaza Strip on Thursday, proving its capabilities in combat for the first time.

IDF sources said the rocket was detected shortly after it was launched in the direction of Ashkelon, south of which a battery was deployed on Monday.

Two Tamir interceptors were fired at the Katyusha and the first intercepted it, a seniorIsrael Air Force officer said.

“This is a historic achievement and the first time in the world that a short-range rocketwas shot down in this way,” one defense official said.

The first Iron Dome battery was deployed outside Beersheba late last month after Hamas and Islamic Jihad fired more than 100 rockets and mortar shells into Israel in less than a week. The IAF said it planned to keep the Iron Dome in its current positions but would move the batteries to other cities within range of Palestinian rocket fire over the coming weeks.

Israel plans to increase the number of operational batteries to six in the coming years; the Obama administration has pledged $205 million to cover the purchase of morerocket defense systems. The Defense Ministry recently completed negotiations with Iron Dome manufacturer Rafael Advanced Defense Systems about the upcoming deal.

Sources in the air force said the Iron Dome was still undergoing an operational evaluation but would continue to be activated in the event of attacks from the Gaza Strip.

Former defense minister and Labor Party MK Amir Peretz, who made the decision to develop the Iron Dome, hailed the success and said that it was the result of “well-trained young soldiers who were prepared for their mission.”