Israel Inaugurates New Iron Dome Battalion to Engage in Multi-Front Defensive War

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Amid a war against Hamas in Gaza, defending against attacks from the Houthis in the south and Hezbollah in the north, and following the Iranian assault last month, Israel this week inaugurated the reopening of the Aerial Defense Array’s 139th Battalion to operate Iron Dome batteries as part of the Israeli Air Force (IAF).

The Iron Dome is an Israeli mobile all-weather air defense system, developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries, and heavily funded by the United States. Having proved vital in the defense of Israeli civilians from barrages of missile attacks by Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Iron Dome system is designed to intercept and destroy short-range rockets and artillery shells aimed at populated Israeli centers.

In a statement about the decision to reopen the 139th Battalion, the Israel Defense Forces said: “The battalion was reopened after previously operating the Hawk and Patriot aerial defense systems before closing down in 2021 after approximately 53 years of action. During the war, and due to operational necessity, it was decided to reopen the battalion, and it will now operate the Iron Dome Aerial Defense System….The establishment of the battalion will enable the expansion of the Iron Dome batteries’ deployment and improve the defensive array.”

At an inauguration ceremony for the battalion, Maj. Gen. Bar said: “For over seven months, the soldiers of the Aerial Defense Array have been engaged in a multi-front defensive war that is unprecedented in scope. Israel is one of just a few countries in the world that possesses such sophisticated and expansive air defense systems, operated by such high-quality people.”

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