MEZIESBLOG

Israel’s high-powered laser interception system, dubbed Iron Beam, is expected to be operational next year.

That’s according to the director-general of Israel’s foreign ministry Eyal Zamir, who signed a $535m (£411m) contract with manufacturers Rafael and Elbit yesterday.

Iron Beam would supplement Israel’s other aerial defence capacities, such as the more well-known Iron Dome.

These have been unable to intercept every projectile launched into Israel, resulting in both civilian and military casualties.

The cost of a single Iron Dome interception is thought to be about $50,000 (£38,400). Iron Beam interceptions, by contrast, would cost a few dollars apiece.

“This may sound like science-fiction, but it’s real,” said Israel’s former prime minister Naftali Bennett in 2022, adding the Iron Beam’s interceptions would be silent, invisible and cost $3.50 each.

This month, the US equipped Israel with a highly advanced defence system that possesses the ability to fend off ballistic missiles inside or outside the atmosphere.

The Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) requires a crew of 95 soldiers to operate it, which the US is also supplying.

Before we go, here’s a round-up of the day’s key developments across the Middle East: 

• The top commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has warned Israel it will face “bitter consequences” following its attack on the country’s military sites on Saturday, Iranian media says;
• Iraq has submitted a complaint to the UN over Israel’s use of its airspace to strike Iran, a government spokesperson has said;
• Lebanon’s health ministry said at least seven people died after a dawn attack on the southern port city of Tyre by Israel;
• A fresh evacuation warning was issued for Lebanon’s third-largest city later in the morning, followed by reports of strikes on the ground;
• The social platform X has suspended a new account on behalf of Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that posted messages in Hebrew. A note on the account says it has been suspended for violating X’s rules;
• According to the latest figures from the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, 43,020 people have now been killed by Israel in the enclave since 7 October 2023, 96 more than yesterday’s number;
• In Lebanon, the number of deaths since the conflict begun has risen to 2,672, with 12,468 people wounded.