With holidays approaching and the recent launches (or non-launches) from Gaza, the IDF is taking no chances and is starting to redeploy the Iron Domes system again in Israel’s south, according to a Mako report.

At the beginning of the holiday period, talks between Israel and Hamas are set to re-continue in Cairo, and there is valid concern that Hamas will start shooting every time they don’t get what they want.

Despite that, defense official do not believe Hamas will actually begin shooting rockets at Israel over the next week or two.

{Printed originally at Liberty Unyielding website}

I’ll never forget the scene in the movie Independence Day when the missiles, artillery and even nukes fired by US forces were completely ineffectual in the face of the aliens’ force field technology. Indeed, no decent sci-fi plot is complete without the sight of earth militaries desperately pummeling the alien invader’s deflector shield with missiles, rockets, artillery and tank shells, all to no effect.

Prior to the invention of gunpowder, physical shields and strong city walls provided effective protection against the primitive ranged weapons of the day. But for over 1000 years cannon shells, bombs and rockets have been unstoppable offensive weapons that overwhelmed all physical defences.

Today, missiles of all sorts (guided), rockets (unguided), shells and bombs are the main weapons of all the world’s militaries and the only defence is to destroy the enemy’s launchers with your own accurate missiles, guided bombs and artillery.

But all this is about to change radically, because Israel has perfected and battle proven effective force fields / shields for its cities, bases and armoured vehicles. These systems can defeat every missile, rocket, shell and even bomb currently in existence by blowing them up mid-air before they can reach their target.

Israel’s Iron Dome has intercepted over 1,000 rockets aimed at Israeli cities, towns and infrastructure with a success rate of over 90% in 2014 – and steadily rising (from 84% in 2012). Advanced radar detects the incoming rocket, computers calculate the trajectory within seconds, and the system fires a Tamir interceptor missile which destroys the target. It can also destroy artillery shells and long range mortars. Despite over 4,500 deadly rockets fired at Israeli cities and towns during the recent 50-day conflict with Hamas, only two Israelis were killed by rocket fire (as opposed to short range mortars). One was in a remote desert area not covered by Iron Dome.

More Hamas rockets have landed in Gaza (causing many deaths) than have landed in Israeli urban areas.

Israel’s Trophy system has made Merkava IV tanks impervious to Hamas’s advanced Russian antitank missiles. The system detects the approach of a missile with advanced 360-degree radar and fires a countermeasure which blasts the approaching warhead to harmless shrapnel. It can stop not just the latest Russian anti-tank missiles but every anti-tank missile in Western inventories, including top-down attack missiles and helicopter- and aircraft-launched anti-tank missiles. Future versions will even be effective in damaging the latest armour-piercing discarding-sabot (APDS) tank shells so that they will be unable to penetrate the Merkava’s armour.

Israel’s Arrow 2 (in service) and Arrow 3 (in service 2015) systems can destroy long-range ballistic missiles, and David’s Sling (in service 2015) can destroy medium-range ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. Iron Beam (in final development) will use lasers to destroy the short-range mortar and artillery shells that Iron Dome can’t stop.

All of the above systems use variations on the same basic concept. Advanced radars detect, computers calculate trajectory, and interceptors (kinetic, explosive, or laser) destroy the approaching warhead at various stages of flight. The effect is the same as the force fields / shields of science fiction – even the most advanced ranged explosive weapons cannot penetrate.

Like other computer-based systems, these interception systems have a very rapid upgrade cycle that can outpace any attempts to modify weapons to outwit them. So far Iron Dome is beating the iPhone for major software and hardware upgrades and consequent performance increases. These include dramatic improvements in accuracy, coverage area, and maximum and minimum interception ranges in only two years. Israeli troops have made software changes on the fly to defeat all Hamas’s attempts to beat Iron Dome and improve performance.

12:04pm IDF says there was no rocket launch at Israel from Gaza.

Gazan sources say a rocket misfired and landed inside Gaza.

No explosions or rocket landings were heard inside Israel.

Conclusion: It’s more likely that no rocket was launched and it was a false alarm.

We will update this article, if we learn something new.

11:44am Initial report: Rocket launched from Gaza at 11:28am fell short. Landed inside Gaza, near the border.

11:39 am (Unrelated) Rocket Siren heard in Karnei Shomron (in the Shomron) - Unannounced siren test – really bad timing.

11:28am So we’re all sitting here, working and minding our own business, when that familiar sounds rings out.

11:28am Rocket Alert – Ashkelon Coast.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu likened Hamas to radical Islamists in Iraq and Syria in a meeting with members of the U.S. House of Representatives Armed Services Committee Thursday evening.

“We’re faced with common enemies, radical Islamic terrorists who have absolutely no inhibitions on executing people, terrorizing people, targeting innocent civilians,” Netanyahu said at the meeting with a bipartisan delegation led by chairman Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Calif.). “These are common enemies of Israel, the United States and all the civilized countries. And I think we should take a common stand to defeat them.”

McKeon in his response pledged continuing support for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system, credited with deflecting over 80 percent of targeted missiles in the recent war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

“On the House Armed Services Committee, we’re happy with the work we’ve been able to do, working with you on [Iron] Dome and how you’ve used it to protect human life,” he said. “And we will keep that bond and that friendship and that special relationship that we have forever.”

A recent report in the Wall Street Journal outlined tensions between the Netanyahu government and the Obama administration over Israel’s direct lobbying of Congress and the Pentagon for supplementary weapons supplies.

During the 50 days of Operation Protective Edge, Hamas and other Gazan terrorists fired 4,594 rockets and mortars at Israel.

Of those, 3,641 landed in Israel, and 188 landed in Gaza.

735 rockets were intercepted by Iron Dome.

7:16pm Ceasefire?

7:15pm 08-26-2014 Kerem Shalom
7:09pm 08-26-2014 Erez
7:09pm 08-26-2014 Kfar Aza / Saad, Erez
7:09pm 08-26-2014 Kfar Aza / Saad
7:05pm 08-26-2014 Beeri
7:05pm 08-26-2014 Beeri
7:05pm 08-26-2014 Nir Oz, Nir Oz / Ein HaShlosha
7:04pm 08-26-2014 Yad Mordechai / Netiv HaAsrah, Nir Oz, Nir Oz / Ein HaShlosha
7:04pm 08-26-2014 Yad Mordechai / Netiv HaAsrah

7:02pm 08-26-2014 No ceasefire.
Kfar Maimon, Nachal Oz, Kfar Aza / Saad

7:00pm Ceasefire?

6:59pm 08-26-2014
Ashkelon / Beit Shikma
6:59pm 08-26-2014
Ashkelon / Nir Yisrael, Zikim / Carmiya, Ashkelon / Beit Shikma
6:59pm 08-26-2014
Ashkelon, Ashkelon / Nir Yisrael, Zikim / Carmiya, Ashkelon / Beit Shikma
6:58pm 08-26-2014
Ashkelon, Ashkelon, Ashkelon / Nir Yisrael, Ashkelon / Beit Shikma
6:58pm 08-26-2014
Ashkelon, Ashkelon, Ashkelon / Nir Yisrael
6:58pm 08-26-2014
Ashkelon, Zikim / Carmiya, Ashkelon
6:58pm 08-26-2014
Zikim / Carmiya, Ashkelon
6:57pm 08-26-2014
, Mivtachim, Talmei Eliyahu, Tzochar, Sde Nitzan, Ohad, Yesha, Amioz
6:56pm 08-26-2014
Bnei Ayish / Gan Yavne
6:56pm 08-26-2014
Bnei Ayish / Gan Yavne, Masaot Yitzchak
6:57pm Ashkolon, Mivtachim, Talmei Eliyahu, Tzochar, Sde Nitzan, Ohad, Yesha, Amioz

6:56pm Bnei Ayish / Gan Yavne

6:56pm Bnei Ayish / Gan Yavne, Masaot Yitzchak

6:55pm Ashdod, Beer Tuvia / Kiryat Malachi, Bnei Ayish / Gan Yavne, Masaot Yitzchak

6:55pm Ashdod, Be’er Tuvia / Kiryat Malachi, Bnei Ayish / Gan Yavne

6:55pm Ashdod

6:55pm Kissufim

6:53pm Hatzerim

6:53pm Nir Oz / Ein HaShlosha, Hatzerim

6:53pm Beer Sheva, Nir Oz / Ein HaShlosha, Hatzerim

6:53pm Beer Sheva, Hatzerim

6:52pm 08-26-2014
Beer Sheva, Beer Sheva / Gilat, Hatzerim
6:52pm 08-26-2014
Beer Sheva, Beer Sheva / Gilat

6:52pm Kfar Aza / Saad

6:51pm Nachal Oz

6:51pm Kfar Aza / Saad, Nachal Oz

6:50pm Nir Oz

6:49pm Beeri
Dead and wounded in Eshkol rocket attacks.

6:48pm Ashkelon / Zaroa, Ashkelon

6:48pm Netivot, Ashkelon / Zaroa, Ashkelon

6:48pm Netivot, Gaza perimeter, Ashkelon / Zaroa, Ashkelon

6:47pm Netivot, Kfar Maimon, Gaza perimeter, Ashkelon / Zaroa, Ashkelon

6:47pm Netivot, Kfar Maimon, Gaza perimeter, Ashkelon / Zaroa

6:47pm Netivot, Kfar Maimon

6:46pm Nir Oz / Ein HaShlosh

6:44pm Hatzerim

6:44pm Eshkol Region, Hatzerim

6:44pm Eshkol Region

6:42pm Eshkol Region

6:42pmSufa / Hulit, Eshkol Region

6:42pm Sufa / Hulit

6:41pm Beer Sheva

6:40pm Beer Sheva

, Otef Aza – Avshalom, Dekel, Pri Gan, Yavol, Sde Avraham, Yated, Talmei Yosef, Shlomit, Bnei Netzarim, Neve

6:37pm Nir Oz / Ein HaShlosha

6:35pm , Otef Aza – Shlomit, Bnei Netzarim,

6:35pm Sufa / Hulit, , Otef Aza – Shlomit, Bnei Netzarim

6:31pm Kissufim

6:31pm Nir Oz, Kissufim

6:30pm Nir Oz

6:27pm Kerem Shalom

6:27pm Kerem Shalom

Rumors of a ceasefire at 7pm

6:20pm Yad Mordechai / Netiv HaAsrah

6:06pm Nir Oz / Ein HaShlosha

6:00pm Ashkelon, Ashkelon

5:56pm Nir Oz / Ein HaShlosha I CAN’T TYPE THIS FAST!

5:56pm Beer Sheva/Ofakim, Nir Oz / Ein HaShlosha I CAN’T TYPE THIS FAST! Arggghhhh!

5:56pm Beer Sheva/Ofakim, Patish/Orim

5:56pm Beer Sheva/Ofakim

5:55pm Eshkol Region

5:53pm Ashdod, Be’er Tuvia / Kiryat Malachi, Bnei Ayish / Gan Yavne

5:53pm Ashdod, Be’er Tuvia / Kiryat Malachi, Bnei Ayish / Gan Yavne, Givati

5:53pm Bnei Ayish / Gan Yavne, Givati

5:53pm Be’er Tuvia / Kiryat Malachi, Bnei Ayish / Gan Yavne, Masaot Yitzchak, Menucha / Nachala / Komemiut, Givati

5:52pm Be’er Tuvia / Kiryat Malachi, Masaot Yitzchak, Menucha / Nachala / Komemiut

5:52pm Be’er Tuvia / Kiryat Malachi, Nir Oz / Ein HaShlosha, Masaot Yitzchak, Menucha / Nachala / Komemiut

5:52pm Nir Oz / Ein HaShlosha

5:51pm Nir Oz / Ein HaShlosha

5:51pm Nir Oz / Ein HaShlosha

5:48pm Kissufim, Nir Oz / Ein HaShlosha

5:47pm Mivtachim, Talmei Eliyahu, Tzochar, Sde Nitzan, Ohad, Yesha, Amioz, Kissufim, Nir Oz / Ein HaShlosha

5:47pm Mivtachim, Talmei Eliyahu, Tzochar, Sde Nitzan, Ohad, Yesha, Amioz

5:47pm Kissufim, Nir Oz / Ein HaShlosha, , Mivtachim, Talmei Eliyahu, Tzochar, Sde Nitzan, Ohad, Yesha, Amioz

5:47pm Kissufim, Nir Oz / Ein HaShlosha

5:47pm Kissufim, Nir Oz / Ein HaShlosha

5:29pm Otef Aza – Avshalom, Dekel, Pri Gan, Yavol, Sde Avraham, Yated, Talmei Yosef, Shlomit, Bnei Netzarim, Neve

5:29 pm Ashkelon, Gaza Belt

4:11pm Gaza perimeter/Sderot, Yad Mordechai / Netiv HaAsrah, Erez, Miflasim

4:06pm Zikim / Carmiya

4:06pm Ashkelon, Zikim / Carmiya

3:29pm Gaza perimeter/Sderot, Erez

2:30pm Beeri

2:28pm Nir Oz / Ein HaShlosha

2:19pm Beeri

2:16pm Kerem Shalomn

2:08 pm pm Be’eri

2:07pm Kissufim

2:07pm Kissufim

2:02pm-2:03pm Ashkelon Ashkelon Coast, Ashdod – Multiple Barrages

2:02pm Sdot Negev, Shaar Negev

12:58pm Sdot Negev, Shaar Negev

12:36pm Ashkelon Coast

11:32am Gaza Belt, Ein HaShlosha, Nirim

11:23am Gaza Belt, Ein HaShlosha, Nirim

11:20am Eshkol, Kerem Shalom

10:38am Eshkol, Kerem Shalom

10:33am Eshkol, Kerem Shalom

10:32am Eshkol, Kerem Shalom

10:22am Sha’ar HaNegev, Nahal Oz, Alumim

9:46am Eshkol

9:40am Eshkol

9:26am In 7:06am rocket strike on home in Ashkelon, six people were lightly injured, and another 26 people were treated for shock. Three of the physically wounded were small children. The rocket launched at Ashkelon was a new type of short-range 136mm rocket, according to Reshet Bet. Most of the injuries were from broken glass. The parents were moving the children to the bomb shelter when the rocket directly hit the parent’s bedroom. Several surrounding homes were damaged.

8:24am Eshkol

8:18am Kissufim

7:11am Rocket alert Eshkol region

7:10am Terror target hit in Gaza last night by IAF airstrike….see building before and after photos of a 13 story building terror target.

7:06am Direct hit on a house in the Ashkelon region.

Emergency forces responding. 21 people lightly injured, with additional 20 in shock.

Photo: Yossi Ashdodi / Rotter.net

A house in Ashkelon was hit by a rocket.
Photo: Sderoti B’Neshama / Rotter.net

6:58am Another rocket alert in Eshkol

6:32am There was a simultaneous, large scale rocket attack on Israel….Ashkelon….Ashdod…Tel Aviv…Herziliya…Kfar Chabad…Hod Ha Sharon…Yahud (near the airport)…Savyon…Rosh Haayin…Shoham…

Iron Dome interception over Tel Aviv

The Code Red incoming rocket alert siren wailed its way from Ashkelon to Ramat HaSharon very early on Tuesday morning, dragging mothers and their sleeping babies out of bed and into the shelters.

After a long day of intensive rocket fire that went late into the night, Gaza terrorists woke Israelis along the coast at 6:30 am with a new round of rocket and missile attacks.

In Ashkelon, the Iron Dome defense system intercepted only one of the missiles.

Another managed to pierce the protection of the anti-missile defense system, with tragic results, leaving four homeless, and wounding 32.

In general, the Iron Dome system seems to be making fewer interceptions at this point than it did in the earlier stages of the war, although it is not clear why. Each interception saves lives. Each lack of an interception results in disaster. In Ashkelon on Tuesday, dozens of people aid the price.

The missile exploded directly on a home in the coastal city of Ashkelon. Four family members inside the house – two parents and children ages 14 and 17 – were heading for their safe space when the missile struck directly above the parents’ bedroom, but miraculously were physically unharmed, although shaken by the incident. A main water pipe outside the home was badly damaged by shrapnel from the attack, and several homes around the home that was hit were also damaged.

Six people were physically wounded by flying glass, including three small children. More than two dozen others suffered severe shock and had to be evacuated to the city’s Barzilai Medical Center for treatment.

The rocket launched at Ashkelon was was a new type of short-range 136mm rocket, according to Reshet Bet.

The Izz a-Din al-Qassam Brigades military wing of Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it had “fired R-160 rockets at Haifa and four M75 rockets at Tel Aviv in response to attacks on multi-story buildings” in Gaza.

Since midnight Sunday, Gaza terrorists fired at least 130 rockets and missiles at Israeli civilians. Of those, 16 were intercepted by the Iron Dome anti-missile defense system – far fewer than in previous weeks.

By 9 am Tuesday, the usual barrages of rocket fire aimed at Gaza Belt communities had also resumed. One of two Qassam rockets that exploded in the Eshkol Regional Council district landed within a community there, damaging a building.