Live UpdateFrom the Liveblog of Sunday, February 5, 2023

IDF defends use of Iron Dome after walking back claim of drone interception

By Emanuel Fabian 5 February 2023, 9:29 pm Edit

Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent.

Illustrative. An Iron Dome Missile Defense battery firing an interceptor missile on August 9, 2018. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Illustrative. An Iron Dome Missile Defense battery firing an interceptor missile on August 9, 2018. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

The Israel Defense Forces publishes the results of an investigation into the launch of Iron Dome missiles in southern Israel last night.

Initially, the IDF said it had intercepted a drone over the Gaza Strip, but later walked back on the claim.

The IDF says the investigation found that the interceptors were launched according to protocol, “and with correct operational judgment.”

However, it remains unclear if there had actually been an aerial target that needed intercepting.