Iron Dome Batteries Deployed

Missile-defense systems have been installed in the Galilee region as Israel closely monitors the situation in Syria. Two Iron Dome batteries have been deployed in northern Israel over the past few days, the IDF said Sunday.

One battery was deployed in the Krayot area, while the other was installed in the Galilee region. Additional, fully operational batteries have already been deployed in the Haifa area and in other locations.

Days ago the security establishment successfully tested an upgraded version of the Iron Dome rocket defense system in Israel’s central region. The upgrades are designed to give the Iron Dome “improved capabilities against an unprecedented range of threats,” the Defense Ministry said.

The upgraded system is capable of intercepting projectiles with a longer range, have a quicker response time and can deal with a number of salvoes simultaneously. It remains unclear how long the Iron Dome batteries will remain deployed in the north at a time when Israel is closely monitoring the situation in Syria for fear its chemical weapons stockpile will be transferred to Hezbollah.