Pentagon is sending Israel the US Army’s two batteries of Iron Dome radar, command posts and interceptors to boost the nation’s air defense as the American death toll from October 7 rises to 33
- The Pentagon sends Israel the two batteries of Iron Dome radar, command posts and interceptors from the US military
- One missile battery of three to four launchers and radar can defend almost 100 square kilometers: Israel had 10 as of mid-2021, Bloomberg reported.
- Since the October 7 terrorist attack, Hamas has fired more rockets into Israel than ever before, and the Iron Dome system is being severely tested
The United States is sending the U.S. Army’s two batteries of Iron Dome radar, command posts and interceptors to Israel to support its efforts to block rockets fired from Gaza and Lebanon.
Israel has faced unprecedented rocket attacks from Hamas since the October 7 terror attack, putting pressure on the Iron Dome.
Defense sources have confirmed this Bloomberg the plan for American additions, but could not say when they would be delivered.
President Joe Biden on Friday submitted a request to Congress for $105 billion for military aid, including more than $14 billion to help Israel defend itself against Hamas terror attacks.
The Senate is currently examining the request.
The Iron Dome is seen in action, intercepting rockets fired from Gaza on October 20
![Pentagon is sending Israel the US Army's two batteries of Iron Dome radar, command posts and interceptors to boost the nation's air defense as the American death toll from October 7 rises to 33 2 The radar for the Iron Dome system is pictured in position in southern Israel](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/1698214486_409_Pentagon-is-sending-Israel-the-US-Armys-two-batteries-of.jpg)
The radar for the Iron Dome system is pictured in position in southern Israel
![Pentagon is sending Israel the US Army's two batteries of Iron Dome radar, command posts and interceptors to boost the nation's air defense as the American death toll from October 7 rises to 33 4 1698214488 534 Pentagon is sending Israel the US Armys two batteries of](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/1698214488_534_Pentagon-is-sending-Israel-the-US-Armys-two-batteries-of.jpg)
On October 31, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee to discuss the White House request.
Blinken attended the United Nations on Tuesday, where he announced that the death toll in the US had risen to 33.
The missile protection system, introduced in 2011, uses an advanced radar system to track incoming missiles which are then intercepted by Tamir missiles. The missiles are fired from multiple launchers attached to the radar system.
Each Iron Dome battery consists of three to four launchers, each capable of carrying up to twenty Tamir interceptor missiles and shooting down missiles fired from a range of two to sixty kilometers.
One missile battery can defend nearly 60 square kilometers: as of mid-2021, Israel had deployed 10 missile batteries across the country, Bloomberg reported.
![Pentagon is sending Israel the US Army's two batteries of Iron Dome radar, command posts and interceptors to boost the nation's air defense as the American death toll from October 7 rises to 33 6 Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system fires to intercept a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, near Ashkelon](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/1698214490_473_Pentagon-is-sending-Israel-the-US-Armys-two-batteries-of.jpg)
Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system fires to intercept a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, near Ashkelon
![Pentagon is sending Israel the US Army's two batteries of Iron Dome radar, command posts and interceptors to boost the nation's air defense as the American death toll from October 7 rises to 33 8 A photo taken from the Israeli city of Sderot shows rockets fired from the Gaza Strip that were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome on October 14.](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/1698214492_555_Pentagon-is-sending-Israel-the-US-Armys-two-batteries-of.jpg)
A photo taken from the Israeli city of Sderot shows rockets fired from the Gaza Strip that were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome on October 14.
The current war with the militant Hamas group in Gaza could be the toughest challenge yet.
According to the Israeli military, Hamas fired 7,000 rockets into Israel in just two weeks. That is more than all previous wars between Israel and Hamas since the militant group seized power in Gaza in 2007.
On October 7 alone, the first day of the battle, Hamas launched at least 2,000 rockets, according to West Point data.
The militant Lebanese Hezbollah group has also fired hundreds of rockets along Israel’s northern front since the fighting began.
Most missiles have been intercepted.
But some managed to get through, killing at least 11 people and hitting buildings as far away as Tel Aviv, according to Israeli officials.
More than 1,400 people have been killed in Israel in the fighting since October 7 – mostly civilians killed in the first Hamas attack.
The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza said at least 704 people, including 305 children and 173 women, were killed in attacks over the past day.
According to the ministry, more than 5,700 Palestinians have been killed in the war, including about 2,300 minors.