In Graphics | What is the Iron Dome, Israel's air defence system that blocked Iran's attack?

Israel’s Iron Dome passed its biggest test yet when it intercepted over 300 drones and ballistic missiles from Iran on Saturday night. This was Iran’s first direct military strike on Israel, escalating an ongoing rivalry that began with Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The formidable short-range defence system has been battling Hamas for the past six months, repelling attacks in addition to using its might to shoot down the incoming assault of drones, cruise missiles, and rockets fired from Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen.

It uses radar to track rockets and distinguish between those that are likely to strike populated areas and those that are not. Interceptor missiles are only launched at rockets that are expected to target populated areas. Iron Dome consists of batteries located throughout Israel, each with three to four launchers capable of firing 20 interceptor missiles. There are fixed and mobile versions of the system.

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It detects incoming rockets before determining their trajectory and intercepting them, and it has destroyed thousands of airborne weapons since it first went into operation in 2011.

The three-part, multi-billion-dollar air defence system, developed by Israel with US assistance following the 2006 Lebanon War, has been critical in defending Israeli cities for more than a decade and is credited with preventing serious damage or casualties.

We explain what Iron Dome is and how it works.