Missile defence light up Tel Aviv skies as Israel counters fresh wave of Iranian strikes — all about Israel's multi‑layered defence
Videos circulating on social media appear to show Israeli air defence systems engaging incoming projectiles over central Israel during Iran’s latest ballistic missile launches, as tensions in the region remain sharply elevated.
The clips show multiple bright streaks criss-crossing the night sky, followed by flashes consistent with mid-air interceptions.
The footage surfaced as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Tuesday announced what it described as the 78th phase of its retaliatory campaign, dubbed “Operation True Promise 4.” According to a statement carried by Iran’s state-affiliated Press TV, the IRGC claimed fresh missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli locations as well as several US-linked military sites in the region.
The IRGC said the latest wave struck what it termed “highly sensitive” targets, naming Dimona, Tel Aviv and Eilat, and described it as part of its broader retaliatory response to earlier attacks on Iranian interests. It added that it “negotiates with enemies through impact-driven strikes”.
The developments come amid heightened regional tensions, with repeated exchanges raising concerns of a wider conflict. Israel has not publicly confirmed all reported strikes but has maintained that its air defence systems are actively intercepting incoming threats.
Israel relies on a multi-layered air defence network designed to counter threats ranging from short-range rockets to long-range ballistic missiles. According to reuters, at the top tier are the Arrow-2 and Arrow-3 systems, developed by Israel with US support specifically to counter Iranian missile threats. While Arrow-2 is designed to intercept incoming missiles within the atmosphere, Arrow-3 is capable of engaging targets outside the atmosphere, allowing for safer destruction of warheads, including potential non-conventional payloads. The programme is led by Israel Aerospace Industries, with US aerospace major Boeing involved in interceptor production.
The David’s Sling system forms the middle layer of defence, designed to intercept ballistic missiles fired from ranges of about 100 km to 200 km, as well as aircraft, drones and cruise missiles. It has been jointly developed by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and US-based RTX Corp (formerly Raytheon).
At the short-range level, the Iron Dome system—operational since 2011—intercepts rockets, mortars and drones using radar-guided missiles. Developed with US backing, it can determine whether an incoming projectile is likely to hit a populated area, engaging only those that pose a threat while allowing others to fall harmlessly. A naval variant has also been deployed since 2017 to protect maritime assets.
Adding a newer layer is Iron Beam , a high-power laser system declared operational in late 2025. Designed to counter smaller threats such as unmanned aerial vehicles and mortars, it uses directed energy to disable targets mid-air and is expected to significantly reduce interception costs compared to missile-based systems.
Israel has also been supported by the US-deployed THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system, which is capable of intercepting short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles in their terminal phase. US military assets, including ground-based systems and naval platforms, have previously assisted in intercepting Iranian missiles during periods of escalation.
In addition, Israeli fighter jets and combat helicopters provide an air-to-air layer of defence, using missiles to neutralise drones before they enter Israeli airspace. \
The clips show multiple bright streaks criss-crossing the night sky, followed by flashes consistent with mid-air interceptions.
The footage surfaced as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Tuesday announced what it described as the 78th phase of its retaliatory campaign, dubbed “Operation True Promise 4.” According to a statement carried by Iran’s state-affiliated Press TV, the IRGC claimed fresh missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli locations as well as several US-linked military sites in the region.
The IRGC said the latest wave struck what it termed “highly sensitive” targets, naming Dimona, Tel Aviv and Eilat, and described it as part of its broader retaliatory response to earlier attacks on Iranian interests. It added that it “negotiates with enemies through impact-driven strikes”.
The developments come amid heightened regional tensions, with repeated exchanges raising concerns of a wider conflict. Israel has not publicly confirmed all reported strikes but has maintained that its air defence systems are actively intercepting incoming threats.
Israel relies on a multi-layered air defence network designed to counter threats ranging from short-range rockets to long-range ballistic missiles. According to reuters, at the top tier are the Arrow-2 and Arrow-3 systems, developed by Israel with US support specifically to counter Iranian missile threats. While Arrow-2 is designed to intercept incoming missiles within the atmosphere, Arrow-3 is capable of engaging targets outside the atmosphere, allowing for safer destruction of warheads, including potential non-conventional payloads. The programme is led by Israel Aerospace Industries, with US aerospace major Boeing involved in interceptor production.
The David’s Sling system forms the middle layer of defence, designed to intercept ballistic missiles fired from ranges of about 100 km to 200 km, as well as aircraft, drones and cruise missiles. It has been jointly developed by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and US-based RTX Corp (formerly Raytheon).
At the short-range level, the Iron Dome system—operational since 2011—intercepts rockets, mortars and drones using radar-guided missiles. Developed with US backing, it can determine whether an incoming projectile is likely to hit a populated area, engaging only those that pose a threat while allowing others to fall harmlessly. A naval variant has also been deployed since 2017 to protect maritime assets.
Adding a newer layer is Iron Beam , a high-power laser system declared operational in late 2025. Designed to counter smaller threats such as unmanned aerial vehicles and mortars, it uses directed energy to disable targets mid-air and is expected to significantly reduce interception costs compared to missile-based systems.
Israel has also been supported by the US-deployed THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system, which is capable of intercepting short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles in their terminal phase. US military assets, including ground-based systems and naval platforms, have previously assisted in intercepting Iranian missiles during periods of escalation.
In addition, Israeli fighter jets and combat helicopters provide an air-to-air layer of defence, using missiles to neutralise drones before they enter Israeli airspace. \
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