March 2011 Pictures of the Month Operations Room • Following continuous terror attacks directed by Hamas from the Gaza Strip, the IAF has attacked a number of times within the Gaza Strip during the past month. In at least three of these attacks, the IAF has succeeded in downing intended attacks towards Israel. The IDF is determined to continue responding assertively to any terror coming from the Strip. READ MORE • “IRON DOME”, the newly developed Anti Surface to Surface Rocket Defense shield, has been deployed in the South of Israel, following a directive from the Chief of Staff. READ MORE The Head of Home Command does re-iterate that this sophisticated system does not come as fool-proof insurance policy, and that it cannot replace the alertness and readiness of the community in adequately preparing shelters. READ MORE • An IDF soldier has been severely injured whilst waiting for public transport at a bus stop in the Jordan Valley. A terrorist attempted at stealing his weapon by attacking with a rock thrown at the soldier’s head. A passing policeman opened fire on the attacker and arresting him. The soldier was air-lifted to hospital. READ MORE One on One • No allowances for “Golani” during their grueling drill in the deep cold of the North, recently. At least the landscape and views were magnificent! READ MORE Challenges of the Moment • The “Wind Breaker” system has successfully downed an anti-tank missile used by terrorists firing against an IDF Tank. This novel system created to protect tanks from anti-tank devices, has been introduced to the Armed Corps this year. It is expected to change considerably the equation on the battle field as we know it. READ MORE • The demand to serve in the Armore Corps Unit 401 has doubled amongst those due for compulsory military service, after the unit has been equipped with the “Wind Breaker” system. READ MORE • Brigadier General (Res.) Avigdor Kahalani expresses the importance of the new system – “ A true revolution in the Battle Field”. READ MORE On the Agenda Unmanned vehilces in the IDF The IDF is now making extensive use of unmanned vehicles within the framework of its campaign against terror. Both Unmanned Air Vehicles as well as Unmanned Land Vehicles play a leading role in Israel's air activity, target identification, espionage and various intelligence-gathering techniques. READ MORE • The IAF operates its “Eytan” UAV squadron. READ MORE • The ground forces are using the UAV “SkyRider” unit. READ MORE IDF Events • The Israeli Rescue delegation has left for Japan on one of its important missions. READ MORE • The IAF Basketball team headed by General Ido Nechushtan meets Maccabi Tel Aviv for a game – the result ? – A close draw! READ MORE • Some 600 youths compete esagerly in the pre-army cadet institutions! READ MORE • Next Month - An all inclusive drill for the battalion “Karakal” - where boys and girls fight together. IDF Spokesperson's Unit Public Affairs Branch Check us out at: SUBSCRIBE Contact Us to our mailing list March 2011 Back to Page 1 IDF targets rocket-launching terror cell in the Gaza Strip IAF aircraft hit terrorists in southern Gaza who were launching projectiles towards Israel on Wednesday morning (Mar. 30). Overnight, IAF aircraft carried out a precision strike on a smuggling tunnel in Gaza . Israeli Air Force aircraft on Wednesday morning (Mar. 30) targeted a cell of terrorists in the southern Gaza Strip who were launching projectiles towards Israeli territory. A hit was identified. Overnight, IAF aircraft carried out a precision strike on a smuggling tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip. All IAF aircraft returned to base safely. The IAF operations were in response to projectiles fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel on Tuesday night. The IDF will not tolerate continued rocket and mortar fire aimed at the communities of southern Israel. The IDF will continue to act decisively to thwart any attempts to harm Israeli citizens. March 2011 Back to Page 1 Chief of Staff approves deployment of the Iron Dome The decision was made following assessments of security in the South as rockets and mortar shells continued to be fired at Israel's southern communities. The Minister of Defense approved its use and visited the Gaza Division last week . Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, has ordered the deployment of the Iron Dome (mobile air defense system to protect against projectiles such as rockets) in the coming days in southern Israel after approval by the government. Before the final approval the Chief of Staff visited communities surrounding the Gaza Strip with Commander of Southern Command, Maj. Gen. Tal Russo. Minister of Defense, Ehud Barak, also visited the Gaza Division and addressed the IDF's next step. "I approved the deployment of the first battery of the Iron Dome as a preliminary trial," said the Minister of Defense. He continued saying, "The battery will be deployed in the South, being moved from time to time according to operational needs. The system can fire back if fired at but it's important to remember that the Dome is still not full proof." The Iron Dome is considered a significant achievement of the Israeli security industry, at the moment in the process of assimilation into the air force and operational use. The system is currently under evaluation. It will be used to respond to the threat of rockets and mortar shells fired at Israel, its capabilities including attacking, alerting and protection. Upon assessment of the security situation in southern Israel, it was decided the Dome would be deployed. The IDF stresses that the Dome will not be used consistently and its moved around according what the situation necessitates. March 2011 Back to Page 1 The Iron Dome to be deployed in the South This following approval by the government and the Chief of Staff, Commander of the Home Front Command stressing the system is not full proof and citizens must continue to follow the Home Front Command’s instructions . The system for defense against the threat of rockets, called the Iron Dome, was erected in southern Israel and began its operational trial this week according. The Iron Dome is considered a significant achievement of the Israeli security industry, at the moment in the process of assimilating into the air force and to being put into operational use. The system is currently under evaluation. It will be used to respond to the threat of rockets and mortar shells fired at Israel, its capabilities including attacking, alerting and protection. Upon assessment of the security situation in southern Israel, it was decided the Dome would be deployed. The step was approved on Friday (Mar. 25) by the Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, following government approval. Minister of Defense, Ehud Barak, said, "The battery will be deployed in the South, being moved from time to time according to operational needs. The system can fire back if fired at but it's important to remember that the Dome is still not full proof." Commander of the Home Front Command, Maj. Gen. Yair Golan, said last week that even the system cannot ensure full security. According to Maj. Gen. Golan, the most important thing is that citizens be prepared and protected by following the Home Front Command’s instructions. “It’s important to keep in mind that the Iron Dome is only in its preliminary, testing stages such that citizens must continue following the Home Front Command’s instructions on how to stay protected. Continue taking these instructions very seriously as even debris can land in Israel,” said Maj. Gen. Golan. The IDF stresses that the Dome will not be used consistently and will be moved around according what the situation necessitates. March 2011 Back to Page 1 IDF soldier attacked by Palestinian terrorist at bus stop The soldier was waiting at a bus stop near the Jordan Valley when the terrorist threw rocks at him. In addition, two Palestinians were discovered with explosives at the Bekaot crossing . An IDF soldier was moderately to seriously injured when rocks were hurled at him on Friday morning (Mar. 25), the same Palestinian terrorist who’d thrown the rocks then attempting to take his weapon. The soldier was attacked at a bus stop at the Petza’el juncture near the Tomer settlement and Jordan Valley. Galatz (Army Radio) reported that the event took place while the soldier was waiting for a bus home. The terrorist threw rocks at the soldier and injured him. Initial police investigations suggest the terrorist was attempting to take the soldier’s weapon. A police man passing through the area while the incident took place shot at the terrorist and injured him in the leg. Both soldier and terrorist were given medical treatment on the scene by Magen David Adom (Israeli Red Cross) and flown to a hospital for further treatment. At the onset of this week an officer with a rank of Captain was moderately injured in Jaffa in front of Cafe Alma on the corner of Yehuda Hayamit street and Shivtei Israel. The suspect stabbed the officer’s upper body and attempted to steal his weapon. The terrorist took the weapon and began running away from the scene, but threw it aside after a civilian began chasing him. Several hours later the police arrested the man suspected of carrying out the act, a resident of the city. In the past year, 137 IDF weapons have disappeared. This is almost half of all thefts in previous years combined. To date, only 74 of them have been returned, among them also weapons stolen in previous years.