How Israel protects itself from attacks
Published: Wednesday, Oct 2nd 2024, 14:20
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According to the Israeli army, Iran fired around 180 shells in the latest attack on Israel. Most of them were intercepted by Israel and a US-led defense coalition. The population also sought shelter in bunkers.
Iron Dome protects Israel from smaller projectiles
The Iron Dome developed by Israel specializes in intercepting rockets and projectiles over short distances. One battery can protect a circular area with a radius of around seven kilometers. The area is roughly equivalent to a city like Freiburg.
To date, the USA has provided more than three billion US dollars for its construction, development and maintenance - the Iron Dome is regarded as a symbol of the USA's role as Israel's protecting power.
According to Israel, the system has been used several thousand times since its launch in 2011. According to the annual report "Military Balance 2024" by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Iron Dome has a success rate of more than 90 percent.
The "Slingshot of David" targets larger attackers
The David's Sling, also developed with the USA, goes one step further in defending Israel. Two batteries are enough to cover the entire area of Israel.
Operational since spring 2017, the system, also known as the Magic Wand, is designed to disable larger ballistic missiles and cruise missiles with a range of up to 300 kilometers compared to the Iron Dome.
According to the US, Iran, Syria and Hezbollah in Lebanon have such weapons. According to the US, it has invested around 2.4 billion US dollars in their development.
Air raid shelters are part of everyday life in Israel
When the rocket alarm sounds and an air raid is imminent, people in Israel have been used to going to a bomb shelter for decades. There are said to be around one million such shelters across the country.
Many residential buildings have their own shelters. They are also located under shopping centers, train stations and other public buildings. A civil defense law from 1951 - three years after the state was founded - stipulates that all residential and commercial buildings must have access to a shelter.
This can also be integrated into a single apartment, secured with heavy steel doors.
In the northern port city of Haifa, for example, which is only 40 kilometers from the Lebanese border and can easily be reached by Hezbollah missiles, health care is well equipped in the event of war.
The Rambam Medical Center can convert its underground car park into a complete war hospital within a very short space of time. Operating theaters, intensive care units and 2,000 beds will then be in operation on three floors.
©Keystone/SDA
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