Iron Dome fires at unidentified aircraft over Gaza, for second day in row

The Iron Dome air defense system shot at an “unidentified aircraft” flying over the Gaza Strip on Monday morning, the military said, a day after a similar incident.

The Israel Defense Forces said the device was identified as flying toward Israeli airspace from Gaza, but did not end up crossing the border.

Iron Dome interceptor missiles were fired at the aircraft while it was still over the Strip, although it remained unclear if was intercepted, the IDF said.

“The aircraft did not pose an immediate threat to civilians in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip, and no alerts were activated according to protocol,” the IDF added.

A video circulating on social media showed a drone flying over Gaza, with Palestinian media reports suggesting the small aircraft was the device that the Iron Dome fired at.

Palestinian media also reported a large blast west of Gaza City. The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear.

فيديو للطائرة المسيرة الفلسطينية قبل اعتراضها من القبة الحديدية. pic.twitter.com/R284s5vP3H

— حسن اصليح | Hassan (@hassaneslayeh) August 21, 2023

On Sunday, the IDF said the Iron Dome shot down a small drone that was flying from the southern Gaza Strip toward Israeli airspace.

Israel typically does not interfere when Hamas conducts drone test flights, only when they are being flown out of the Strip.

مراسل شهاب: سماع دوي انفجار جنوبي غرب مدينة غزة pic.twitter.com/jxsdLW1bLS

— وكالة شهاب للأنباء (@ShehabAgency) August 21, 2023

The Iron Dome was first used operationally to intercept a Hamas drone in May 2021, during an 11-day conflict with Palestinian terror groups in the Strip, known in Israel as Operation Guardian of the Walls.

During the conflict, the system also mistakenly shot down an Israeli drone.

The IDF shot down drones over the Gaza Strip in March of this year, in May 2022, and in November 2021.