Hamas again fired rockets from the Gaza Strip at cities in Israel on Sunday evening. Warning sirens also sounded in the greater Tel Aviv area. Just as the ‘Iron Dome’ defense system fired interceptor missiles to neutralize the Hamas missiles, a passenger plane was about to land.
A video shows the landing of Israeli airline El Al’s Boeing 737 as Iron Dome missiles take off and warning sirens blare (see tweet below).
The passenger plane had just arrived from the Georgian capital Tbilisi and was finally able to land safely at Ben Gurion Airport, reports the Russian news portal ‘The Insider’. According to Flightradar24, it arrived too late – whether because of the heavy rocket attacks on Tel Aviv or for other reasons is unclear.
Passenger aircraft with missile defense systems
There was obviously no immediate danger to the aircraft, but if it did happen, it would be equipped to deal with it: since the early 2000s, all aircraft in the El-Al fleet have been equipped with an infrared missile defense system. The system called “Flight Guard” detects heat-seeking guided missiles using radar and can distract them with decoys (also called flares). The Israeli airline is the only one in the world to equip its aircraft with such a security system.
Sunday evening’s rocket attacks were claimed by the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas. No one was injured, according to paramedics.
8000 rockets fired in a month
According to the Israeli military, more than 8,000 rockets have been fired from the Gaza Strip at Israeli cities since the war began on October 7. Hamas, which rules the coastal region and is classified as a terrorist organization by the US and EU, has taken much of the responsibility.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
