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Avi Melamed analysis is quoted in ” Israel’s Arrow system: The shield that blunted Iran’s missile assault ” an article in AL ARABIYA – 2024-10-3 | Source article is available here >>
Avi Melamed, a former Israeli Intelligence Official and regional analyst, told Al Arabiya English that a “significant Israeli response should be expected in Iran.”
“In my assessment, the Israeli response will focus on infrastructure, with an emphasis on military and critical infrastructures (missile bases, factories, power plants, etc.) and will avoid damaging Iran’s oil infrastructure or nuclear sites.”
Iran’s mass missile attack on Israel on Tuesday was largely thwarted by the state’s Arrow weapons system, according to a high-level source at Israel Aerospace Industries who spoke to Al Arabiya English.
The attack saw Iran launch a barrage of 200 ballistic missiles towards Tel Aviv. Despite the scale of the assault, its military impact was minimal according to Israeli officials who claimed on Wednesday that while several airbases sustained damage, military operations remained unaffected.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed “90 percent” of the missiles “hit their targets” late Tuesday, but the Israeli military said most missiles were intercepted and characterized all missile impacts – which has ramped up fears of a devastating regional war – on airbases as “ineffective.”
Speaking on condition of anonymity due to “regional sensitivities,” the IAI spokesperson provided insights into the Arrow system’s role in Israel’s defense. “The Arrow weapons system, which provides aerial defense against ballistic missiles both inside and outside the atmosphere, was instrumental in deterring this attack,” the source stated.
The spokesperson elaborated on the system’s components: “It comprises two types of interceptors – Arrow 2 and Arrow 3. The Arrow 3 intercepts threats outside the atmosphere at high altitudes, while the Arrow 2 operates at lower altitudes, both within and outside the atmosphere.”
Describing the system’s operational process, the source explained, “The system’s radar acquires threats and can interoperate with other systems. It provides data to the command and control center, which calculates a defense plan and the predicted interception point. The interceptor is then launched towards this point. Post-launch, the interceptor independently acquires its target and guides itself to intercept the threat.”
The Arrow system has seen increased activity since the October 7 Hamas-led incursion into Israel, countering threats from various directions, including Yemen. Its most significant test came on April 14, when Iran launched a massive attack of 300 missiles and drones in retaliation for an Israeli strike on Iran’s consulate in Damascus earlier that month. The Arrow system, working in concert with other Israeli air defense mechanisms, successfully intercepted almost all of these projectiles.
Israel’s multi-tiered missile defense strategy includes other highly effective systems like the Iron Dome, which has intercepted thousands of rockets since its 2011 deployment. The Iron Dome is designed to intercept short-range rockets at distances up to 70 kilometers (43 miles), complementing the longer-range capabilities of the Arrow system.
The recent Iranian attack have raised questions about potential Israeli retaliation.
Avi Melamed, a former Israeli Intelligence Official and regional analyst, told Al Arabiya English that a “significant Israeli response should be expected in Iran.”
“In my assessment, the Israeli response will focus on infrastructure, with an emphasis on military and critical infrastructures (missile bases, factories, power plants, etc.) and will avoid damaging Iran’s oil infrastructure or nuclear sites.”
In a letter to the Security Council on Tuesday, Iran justified its attack on Israel as self-defense under Article 51 of the founding UN Charter, citing “aggressive actions” by Israel including violations of Iran’s sovereignty.
“Iran … in full compliance with the principle of distinction under international humanitarian law, has only targeted the regime’s military and security installations with its defensive missile strikes,” Iran wrote to the council.
Avi Melamed analysis is quoted in ” Israel’s Arrow system: The shield that blunted Iran’s missile assault ” an article in AL ARABIYA – 2024-10-3 | Source article is available here >>
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