Iron Dome FAILS as Hezbollah rockets strike northern Israeli settlement

10/10/2024 / By Richard Brown

Israeli Hebrew-language daily newspaper Israel Hayom reported on Wednesday, Oct. 9, that the country’s Iron Dome anti-missile defense system failed to activate during a recent barrage of rockets launched by Hezbollah targeting the far northern settlement of Kiryat Shmona.

Israeli authorities are currently investigating the reasons behind this failure, which comes amid escalating tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border. The Israeli military stated that approximately 90 rockets were fired from Lebanon, around 20 of them targeting Kiryat Shmona, resulting in the deaths of two Israelis due to shrapnel.

Sirens were activated due to a false alarm regarding a potential drone attack, further heightening public anxiety. Fire and Rescue Services reported that several buildings caught fire from direct hits, with Incident Commander Chief Reshef Dror Buchnik stating, “Fires are raging in multiple buildings that sustained direct hits, and firefighters are working to contain the spread while searching for victims.” (Related: Israel’s much-touted Iron Dome is failing catastrophically while IDF armor is systematically destroyed by Hamas fighters.)

This incident follows a significant bombing campaign by Israel in Lebanon that began on Sept. 23 and has killed over a thousand people, including many high-ranking Hezbollah leaders led by Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed on Sept. 27.

Despite this bombing campaign, Hezbollah’s rocket and drone attacks against Israel have not ceased, and the group continues to strike various military targets, including major cities like Haifa and Tel Aviv. The group’s ground forces have also effectively repelled ongoing Israeli attempts to enter Lebanese territory.

The Iron Dome system is failing Israel

Since its activation in 2011, the Iron Dome has successfully intercepted thousands of rockets, primarily those launched from the Gaza Strip. On the day of the recent Hezbollah attack, the system was reportedly engaged in intercepting missiles from Iran and may have been overwhelmed by the sheer volume of projectiles.

The Iron Dome consists of multiple batteries equipped with advanced radar systems that detect incoming short-range rockets. Each battery typically includes three or four launchers, with a capacity of 20 interceptor missiles. When a rocket is detected, the system assesses whether it is headed toward a populated area; if so, it launches an interceptor to neutralize the threat. If the rocket is projected to land in an open area, it is allowed to fall, conserving missile resources.

While the Iron Dome is approximately 90 percent effective, it has limitations, particularly when faced with mass rocket attacks, which can overwhelm the system and allow some projectiles to get through.

Each interceptor missile is estimated to cost between $40,000 and $50,000, placing a financial burden on the defense system during sustained conflicts. The United States has played a critical role in supporting the Iron Dome, investing heavily in its development and replenishing its interceptor missiles during times of conflict.

The Iron Dome is part of a multi-layered air-defense strategy that includes the Arrow system, designed to intercept long-range missiles, and David’s Sling, which targets medium-range threats like those believed to be possessed by Hezbollah. Both of these systems were developed in partnership with the United States. The older Patriot system, initially used during the First Gulf War to intercept Scud missiles, continues to serve in intercepting aircraft and drones.

To address the Iron Dome’s limitations, Israel is advancing the development of the Iron Beam, a laser-based system that aims to intercept short-range threats at a significantly reduced cost. While still in development and not yet operational, the Iron Beam is expected to be a transformative addition to Israel’s defense capabilities. Earlier this year, President Biden signed a bill allocating $1.2 billion for the procurement of the Iron Beam.

Watch this episode of “Brighteon Broadcast News” as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, discusses how Israel’s vaunted Iron Dome system failed to defend the country against Iran’s missile barrage.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.