The Journal of Political Science. GC University - Lahore

The Journal of Political Science

Department of Political Science, Government College University Lahore
ISSN (print): 1726-6467
ISSN (online): 2709-8672

FROM OPERATION PILLAR OF DEFENSE (2012) TO OPERATION GUARDIAN OF THE WALLS (MAY 2021): A CRITICAL APPRAISAL OF ISRAEL’S IRON DOME DEFENSE SYSTEM

  • Jamshid Khan/
  • Aman Ullah/
  • Basit Ali/
  • Eng Osama Zaid/
  • December 27, 2022
Keywords
Israel’s Iron Dome, Operation Pillar of Defense, Operation Protective Edge, Operation Guardian of the Walls.
Abstract

The present study is undertaken to critically appraise the capability and performance of Israel’s Iron Dome during different campaigns till the recent Gaza war of May 2021. The study shows that during different military campaigns since the deployment of Iron Dome, Israel Defense Force has claimed significant interception figures for the system. However, the system critics refute the interception rates claimed by IDF on the basis that these are not independently verified. Operation Pillar of Defense (2012) shows that though IDF released statistics for Iron Dome interception were high, but anti-missile defense analysts and experts observed that given that only 20% of collisions were front on, hence the interception ratio was likely 5 percent or less for Iron Dome during 2012 campaign. During Operation Protective Edge (2014) again IDF claimed a higher interception ratio for the air defense system, but system critics criticized its ability on the basis that Iron Dome has a limitation particularly when it confronts ultra short-range and low trajectory rockets and mortars. The May 2021 conflict shows the military and technological superiority of Hamas and IJMP to launch mass saturation rockets attacks against Israeli settlements indicating the growing capability of non-state actors to overwhelm the defensive system (Iron Dome). Operation Guardian of the Walls (2020) also raised questions regarding the capability of the Israeli lower-layered defense system to counter rockets and mortars in the future particularly when confronted by a possible two or three front on rocket warfare involving Hezbollah.

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Author(s):

Visiting lecturer of Political science at University of Lakki Marwat.

Pakistan

  • jamshadbkuc@gmail.com

Lecturer in Sociology, University of

Pakistan

  • SwabiAman@uoswabi.edu.pk

Basit Ali

LLM (International Islamic University)

Advocate at Lakki Marwat Bar

Pakistan

  • basitstudent00@gmail.com

Lecturer at Swedish college of engineering wah cantt, and having MS in Structural Engineering from MCE, Risalpur

Pakistan

Details:

Type: Article
Volume: 40
Issue: 1
Language: English
Id: 63aaf5df01c45
Published December 27, 2022

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Copyrights

Department of Political Science, Government College University Lahore
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.