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U.S. retains security coordinator to work with Abbas, not Hamas

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Tuesday, March 27, 2007

ISRAEL DEPLOYS ROCKET-LOCATING SYSTEM TEL AVIV — Israel's military has deployed a missile-warning system designed to report impending attacks from Lebanon and Syria.

Officials said the military's Home Front Command has deployed the system by Rafael, Israel Armament Development Authority. They said the system was used during the 2006 war against Hizbullah, when the Iranian-sponsored militia fired about 4,500 rockets into Israel.

"The system was deployed in the first days of the war upon request from the Home Front Command," an Israeli military statement said.

The unidentified system was said to merge sensors with command and control to warn authorities of impending rocket and missile strikes against Israel. Officials said the system, similar to Red Dawn in the Israeli southern town of Sderot, provided between 20 and 90 seconds of advanced warning.

Officials said the system was in the advanced trial stage when the Lebanon war erupted in July 2006. At that point, the Rafael system became operational, but failed to warn of numerous rocket strikes, officials said.

The system has been embroiled in controversy in wake of a military request to Rafael operators not to inform police of impending rocket attacks. The military said police personnel had been included in a joint C2 headquarters established during the war.

An Israeli military spokesman said Rafael exceeded its authority by independently informing police of rocket attacks and landings. The spokesman said the military and police sought to draw lessons from the operations of the C2 center during the Lebanon war in a major exercise in central Israel last week.

Military sources said the air force has also employed a missile warning system for surface-to-air missiles in an attempt to detect surface-to-surface missile launches. They said the missile warning systems of F-15 and F-16 combat aircraft could locate virtually any rocket or missile launch.

"From there, the way to close the circle is short," Lt. Col. Amit, head of the electronic warfare branch of the air force, said.


Copyright © 2007 East West Services, Inc.

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