Israel Deploys 'Iron Dome' Missile Defense System

At NYT, "Israel Rolls Out First Mobile Battery of Antirocket System":

BEERSHEBA, Israel — The Israeli military deployed the first mobile battery of a new antirocket missile defense system on Sunday on a dusty rise at the outskirts of this southern Israeli city after a week of heightened tensions between Israel and Gaza.

Military officials said the deployment was accelerated because of the recent escalation in rocket and mortar fire by Gaza militants against southern Israel and Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, which have led to fears of an all-out confrontation. But Israeli officials warned that the system, known as Iron Dome, was still experimental and could not provide the country with full protection from approaching rockets.

The situation along the border remained volatile. On Saturday, Gaza-based militant groups met and agreed to restore an unofficial cease-fire, according to officials from Hamas, the Islamic militant group that controls Gaza. The cease-fire has largely held since the end of Israel’s three-week military offensive in Gaza in the winter of 2008-9. That war came after years of rocket fire against southern Israel.

More at the link above. The Iron Dome system is effective against radar-guided missiles, but not against the Qassams, which are launched with no guidance technology. Who knows where those mofos are going to land? Also noted is that Israelis normally have 45 seconds to duck and cover when warning systems sound. Man, that's unreal. We used to do duck and cover when I was a kid, but that was just practice. The Soviets weren't lobbing heavy missiles at the U.S., although better safe than sorry. The Israelis aren't doing duck and cover drills. It's the real thing, but of course when the IDF defends the national security it's "war crimes." Unreal.