IDF ship-mounted Iron Dome shoots down hostile drone near Eilat

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The Israeli Navy used a ship-mounted Iron Dome missile defense system to intercept and neutralize a “suspicious aerial target” that entered Israeli airspace on Monday night, close to the southern Israeli city of Eilat on the Red Sea.

The hostile target was later identified as a drone. Israeli authorities reported that there was no damage or injuries.

This is reportedly the first time that the ship-mounted Iron Dome has been used in a real security-threat situation. Beachgoers in Eilat managed to film the moment when the Iron Dome neutralized the incoming aerial target.

One last clip from Eilat pic.twitter.com/0ST0Gj7Awd
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) April 8, 2024

Known in the Israeli military as the C-Dome, the naval Iron Dome aerial defense system is deployed on Sa’ar 6-class corvettes, the newest and most advanced vessels in the Israeli Navy.

Israel has one of the world’s most advanced aerial defense systems, developed in response to the growing missile and drone threats against Israel from the Iranian regime and its regional terror proxies.

In February 2022, the Israeli Navy successfully tested the naval Iron Dome system at sea. At the time, Israeli Defense Minister and former IDF Chief Benny Gantz hailed the new system as an important achievement in boosting Israel’s defense capabilities.

“The technology that we are developing in the multi-layered defense system of the State of Israel, allows us vital freedom of action vis-à-vis Iranian emissaries in the region and the means at their disposal, which are evolving,” Gantz announced. “We continue to be two steps ahead of them and will continue to act and upgrade our capabilities in defense and attack, in order to protect Israel's security superiority in the region, the citizens of Israel and the Israeli economy.”

While Gaza remains the epicenter of the current war against the terrorist organization Hamas, Israel’s southernmost city has been attacked several times over the past six months.

In November, a hostile incoming drone struck a school in Eilat without causing any personal injuries. Israel responded by targeting terrorist sites in Syria after it was concluded that the drone had been launched from there.

In late March, the Iranian-backed Houthi terror militia, based in Yemen, successfully fired a missile that penetrated Israel’s airspace over Eilat, without causing any injuries.

In early April, a hostile drone struck a building belonging to the Israeli Navy in Eilat. While there was material damage, the drone did not cause any injuries.

“There were no casualties and there was minor damage to a building,” the Israeli military reported.

Addressing the media at the time, IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Daniel Hagari clearly named the sponsor of the attack as the Iranian regime.

“The drone that hit the naval base in Eilat overnight was produced and directed by Iran,” Hagari assessed. “We are acting to improve our defense capabilities in the Eilat area.”

It was initially believed that the Houthis were behind the attack, however, the ‘Islamic Resistance in Iraq’, an Iranian proxy militia, quickly claimed responsibility, saying it had struck “a vital target in [Israel].”