From the DW:
“Israel tests US-backed missile
shield over Alaska”
Israel and the United States say
they have successfully tested the Arrow 3 missile defense system. Israel
intends to use the jointly developed interceptor system to defend against
missiles potentially fired from Iran. Israel said on Sunday that it had carried
out a series of successful live interception tests of its Arrow 3 ballistic
missiles over the US state of Alaska. Israel and the US held up the successful
test as evidence of the strength of their alliance in the face of perceived
threats from various countries, notably Iran. "Today, Israel has the
capabilities to act against ballistic missiles launched at us from Iran and
from anywhere else," said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The
director of the US Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency, Vice Admiral John Hill,
said in a statement that Washington was "committed to assisting the
government of Israel in upgrading its national missile defense capability to
defend the state of Israel and deployed US forces from emerging threats." The Arrow 3 system is part of a
multicomponent shield that Israel is developing to defend itself not only
against long-range missiles from Iran, but also rockets fired from Gaza and
Lebanon. The missile system, which passed its first full interception test over
the Mediterranean in 2015, is said to be able to shoot down incoming missiles
in space. With its earlier generation system, Arrow 2, Arrow 3 complements the
Iron Dome and David's Sling, which are designed to deal with short-range and
mid-range missiles respectively. The Alaska tests come a week after Washington
reported apparent Iranian trials of a medium-range ballistic missile. Iran and
the US are currently embroiled in an escalating confrontation over Tehran's
nuclear program and missile projects. In a statement, the Israeli Defense
Ministry said the tests were carried out in Alaska to try out features that
were not allowed to be tested in Israel.
^ Israel needs this as part of
their defense system since they are constantly attacked from their enemies (ie.
Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinians in Gaza, etc.) and are officially threatened
by others (ie. Iran.) I was so amazed when the Iron Dome system was first used
in Israel and helped save so many innocent lives and continues to save people
to this day. I hope this Arrow 3 system will help keep that going. The US
should also consider using it to protect our own citizens. ^
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