Israeli Defense System: Iron Dome At 97% Success Rate After 580 Rockets Fired From Gaza

The Iron Dome missile defense system has achieved a 97 percent success rate intercepting incoming rockets, amid almost non-stop barrages launched by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group since Friday, the Israel Defense Forces said Sunday.

The Sunday morning IDF data put the number of rockets and mortars launched toward Israel since Friday evening at 580. Iron Dome, which is used when the incoming projectile is headed for populated areas, intercepted 200 of them.

In addition, 120 projectiles fell short and landed in the Gaza Strip.

The interception rate marks an ongoing improvement since Iron Dome, first deployed in 2011, faced its first major test during the IDF’s Operation Pillar of Defense in 2012, when it managed to shoot down 75% of the incoming projectiles at which it was directed.

That rate rose to 80% success rate during Operation Protective Edge in 2014, and 90% during last year’s Operation Guardian of the Walls, the IDF said.

According to IDF Spokesman Ran Kochav, The latest major IDF operation against Gaza terror groups began Friday, to tackle what Israeli leaders said was an immediate concrete threat by the PIJ to Israeli communities. Operation Breaking Dawn began with a targeted strike on PIJ’s northern Gaza commander Tayseer Jabari, who was “responsible for the concrete threat in the last three-four days to fire anti-tank missiles and mow down Israeli civilians or soldiers in the Gaza border area.”