Israeli air defence fails to intercept Soviet S-200 missile – Photos & VIDEO

Defence Redefined

22/04/2021

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have launched an investigation to determine why the air defence failed to intercept an errant surface-to-air missile fired from Syria and landed in southern Israel on Thursday (22/04) morning, according to the Israeli newspaper, “The Times of Israel”.

The Syrian missile exploded in mid-air, sending fragments crashing down, with pieces landing in the community of Ashalim, some 40 kilometers from the nuclear reactor in Dimona, without causing injuries or significant damage.

“The IDF worked to prevent a potential strike on critical infrastructure in the state of Israel. An SA-5 (NATO code for the Soviet S-200 anti-aircraft system) model of surface-to-air missile was fired, passed through the area. There was an attempt to intercept it, which did not succeed. We are still investigating the event,” said Defence Minister Benny Gandz at a press conference in Tel Aviv.

Shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Thursday, Israeli fighter jets conducted a series of airstrikes on targets in the Syrian Golan. In response, Syrian air defence units fired a large number of anti-aircraft missiles, mostly Soviet-type S-200 missiles, attacking Israeli aircraft, according to Syrian state media.

According to the IDF, the interceptor failed to shoot down the Syrian anti-aircraft missile, a massive projectile with a 200-kilogram warhead.

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The IDF refused to identify which of its air defence systems was used in the effort. Video footage of the launch of the Israeli interceptor was widely shared on social media.

In response to the launch of a surface-to-air missile, the Israeli military conducted a second round of airstrikes in Syria, targeting Syrian air defences, including the battery that fired the SA-5 that struck southern Israel.

It is recalled that In 2019, in a similar event, a Syrian S-200 missile targeting an Israeli fighter jet landed in occupied Cyprus, causing a large explosion and fire.

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With information from: The Times of Israel / The Jerusalem Post