TEL AVIV, March 26 (RIA Novosti) - Israel has conducted a successful launch of a modernized interceptor missile used as part of the Hetz (Arrow II) missile defense system, the country's Defense Ministry said Monday.
In the early 1990s, during Operation Desert Storm led by the U.S. in Iraq, Israel came under repeated missile attack from Iraq.
Today, Israel sees the main threat as emanating from Iran, which is suspected by the international community of pursuing a secret nuclear weapons program under the guise of a civilian nuclear program.
"All the interceptor missile's components operated successfully... justifying all expectations," the ministry said in a press release.
The ministry also said this was the sixteenth launch of the interceptor missile, the last test having been conducted in mid-February.
The Arrow is being developed by Israeli and American companies to intercept medium- and long-range ballistic missiles.
