Special Security Report

IDF confirms Israel Air Force struck targets in Syria.
– Rocket alert sirens sound in Israel as anti-aircraft missile, that was hit by the IDF’s interceptor Arrow missile, falls in Jordan.

By ANNA AHRONHEIM, JPOST.COM STAFF, REUTERS

Israel used its Arrow-3 missile defense system for the first time on Thursday night after Israeli jets were targeted with Syrian anti-aircraft missiles during an operation over the war-torn country.

The Arrow 3 missile is launched from Palmachim air base in central Israel on December 10, 2015. – Photo: Israel Ministry of Defense

In a rare confirmation of Israel carrying out airstrikes in Syria, the IDF said on Friday morning that “several anti-aircraft missiles were launched from Syria during the operation. One of the missiles was intercepted by the air defense systems of the IDF.”

As a result of these activities a rocket alert siren was heard in Aravot HaYarden Regional Council in Israel’s Jordan Valley, the army statement added.

Wreckage in Jordan, of the Syrian fired anti-aircraft missile that was intercepted by an IDF Arrow missile. – Screenshot: Sami Abed Alhamed/Twitter

In January, the Israel Air Force officially took delivery of the first Arrow-3 interceptor. Produced by IAI, the Arrow 3 forms the uppermost layer of Israel’s multilayered defense system along with the Arrow 2, David’s Sling and Iron Dome system.

The Arrow 3 is highly maneuverable system designed to provide ultimate air defense by intercepting ballistic missiles when they are still outside the Earth’s atmosphere and is considered one of the world’s best interceptors due to its breakthrough technological capabilities.

A Reuters witness in the central Israeli city of Modiin reported hearing an explosion and a more distant bang was heard from as far away as Jerusalem.

Israeli journalists have posted photos and video of the wreckage of the anti-aircraft missile:

טיל ששוגר מסוריה ונפל בשטח הכפר ענבה במחוז אירביד צפונית לירדן ללא נפגעים.הזעקות הופעלו בישובי הבקעה.הדי הפיצוץ נשמעו בירושלים וראמאללה pic.twitter.com/Bu0yTbr55B

— sami abed alhamed (@samiaah10) March 17, 2017

The border with Syria has been tense since Syria’s civil war erupted in 2011, and while Israel is suspected of carrying out strikes against Hezbollah weapons convoys in Syrian territory, it rarely publicly admits to them.

Palestinian militants in Gaza have often fired short-range rockets over the border with Israel and, in the 2014 Gaza war, had fired longer-range rockets that landed deep inside Israel and in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Militants affiliated with the Islamic State group in the Egyptian Sinai peninsula have also fired rockets into Israel on occasion.

View original The Jerusalem Post publication at:
http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Report-Red-alert-siren-heard-in-Jordan-Valley-484452