JERUSALEM – Israel’s Arrow missile defense system intercepted and destroyed a missile similar to Iran’s long-range Shahab-3 during a test Friday, prompting Israel’s defense minister to declare it an effective shield against a possible future Iranian nuclear threat.
State-owned Israel Aircraft Industries and U.S.-based Boeing Co. began developing the Arrow system after Iraq fired 39 Scud missiles at Israel during the 1991 Gulf War.
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said that in light of Iran’s recent threats against Israel and efforts to develop nonconventional weapons, Israel needs an effective shield.
“The state of Israel, which is a clear target of each of these missiles and of the production stations of Iran’s nonconventional weapons, reserves the right to have other capabilities to prevent this threat,” he said.
The Shahab-3 can be equipped with nuclear warheads and could reach Israel, as well as several U.S. military installations in the Middle East. Israeli concerns were heightened after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in October said Israel must be “wiped off the map.”
The test Friday was carried out at an air force base in central Israel. It was the 14th test of the system, and the first trial since a failed test last year.
“The launch was successful. The significance is that the Arrow arms project proved another part of its range of operations against the Iranian threat,” Aryeh Herzog, head of the Arrow project in the Defense Ministry, told Israel Channel Two TV.
Israel has long said that a nuclear-armed Iran would pose the greatest threat to it and Mideast stability. On Thursday, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said that although diplomacy is still the first option for stopping Iran’s nuclear aspirations, the world also has military options to halt the process.
Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful, civilian purposes. But in November, the European Union accused Iran of having documents that show how to make nuclear warheads, and joined the U.S. in warning Tehran that it could face referral to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions.
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