israel iron dome gaza rockets
Iron Dome interceptors, left, rise toward rockets fired from Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, May 14, 2021.
Anas Baba/AFP via Getty Images
  • Israel's Iron Dome repelled thousands of rockets and even drones during recent fighting.
  • The air-defense system also accidentally shot down an Israeli military drone.
  • The Israel Defense Forces told Israeli media the friendly-fire incident is under investigation.
  • See more stories on Insider's business page.

Israel's Iron Dome air-defense system accidentally shot down an Israeli military drone during recent fighting with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces told local media.

"As part of the round of fighting in Gaza and as part of the defense of the country's skies, an IDF Skylark drone was hit by Iron Dome," an IDF spokesperson told Haaretz, adding that the incident is under investigation.

Skylark drones are small unmanned aerial vehicles built by Elbit Systems, an Israel-based international defense firm, and used by the IDF Artillery Corps' "Sky Rider" unit for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.

Haaretz reported that the IDF is "worried" about the friendly-fire incident because it calls into question whether the IDF is able "to conduct a long period of fighting without harming its own forces."

During a recent 11-day conflict involving an intense exchange of fire between the IDF and Palestinian militants in Gaza, Israel's Iron Dome faced thousands of rockets, as well as enemy drones, the latter being a first for the system.

iron dome israel gaza palestine rockets
Iron Dome intercepts rockets launched from Gaza over Ashkelon, Israel, May 12, 2021.
Amir Cohen/Reuters

Israel's Iron Dome is a short-range air-defense system designed to intercept rockets, artillery, and mortars. The system has been in use since 2011 and is in place to reduce casualties from rocket attacks against Israeli cities.

The system was designed and developed by the Israeli defense companies Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries with US support. It is a part of a larger tiered defense system that includes other critical assets like the Arrow and Patriot batteries.

The Israeli Ministry of Defense announced in March the completion of upgrades to Iron Dome that would allow it to defend against a more varied collection of aerial threats that Israel might face in future conflicts.

During the upgrade process, the defense system was tested against a variety of threats that include rockets, missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles, the Associated Press reported.

A rocket launched from Gaza city controlled by the Palestinian Hamas movement, is intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome aerial defence system, on May 11, 2021
Iron Dome intercepts a rocket launched from Gaza, May 11, 2021.
Photo by MOHAMMED ABED/AFP via Getty Images

The recent fighting began on May 10 as Hamas began launching Qassem rockets at Israeli cities after a period of heightened tensions and local clashes. During the conflict, the IDF repeatedly praised Iron Dome for its effectiveness.

The defense system is said to have intercepted 90% of incoming rockets, significantly reducing Israeli losses. Palestinian deaths, as Israel retaliated with airstrikes, were much higher.

The Times of Israel, which also reported the accidental downing of an Israeli drone, said that the Israeli military conducted around 1,500 airstrikes in Gaza during the conflict. According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, at least 243 Palestinians were killed, including several dozen children, with almost 2,000 wounded.

The horrific conflict, some of the worst fighting in years, concluded last Friday with a ceasefire agreement.

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