Israel, US successfully test ballistic missile interceptor

Israel and the United States have successfully carried out tests of a ballistic missile interceptor that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday provides protection against potential threats from Iran. The tests of the Arrow-3 system were carried out in the US state of Alaska and it successfully intercepted targets above the atmosphere, Israel’s defence ministry said in a statement.

“The flight tests were conducted in Alaska in order to test capabilities that may not be tested in Israel,” the statement said. Netanyahu said “today Israel has the ability to act against ballistic missiles that could be launched against us from Iran or anywhere else”.

“This is a great achievement for the security of Israel,” he added. US ambassador to Israel David Friedman joined Netanyahu at a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on Sunday to watch video footage of the tests. In January, Israel said it also carried out a successful test with the United States of the Arrow-3 in Israel. A series of tests were also conducted before the missiles being deployed in 2017 to Israeli air bases.