Deadly duel: Photos capture battle between Iron Dome and Hamas rockets

Series of stunning images from the AFP news agency highlights macabre dance that plays out in the skies as Israel tries to thwart massive rocket fire from Gaza

By TOI STAFF     Today, 6:19 am

Rockets (R) are seen in the night sky fired towards Israel from Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on May 14, 2021, while Iron Dome interceptors rise to meet them. (Photo by ANAS BABA / AFP)<
>
A stunning series of images captured early Friday depicts the intense, otherworldly battles being raged in the skies above Israel and Gaza between the rockets launched by terror groups and Israel’s Iron Dome interceptors.

One particular image, captured by Anas Baba of the French news agency AFP shows the rockets launched from Gaza, drawing straight angular golden lines in the night sky. Iron Dome interceptor rockets are seen rising up in swirling fury, ready to bring them down.

Israel says Iron Dome has intercepted more than 90 percent of rockets heading for populated areas, saving hundreds of lives. The system’s advanced radar calculates which rockets will fall harmlessly in open areas and leaves those ones alone.

Meanwhile, Hamas and other terror groups have tried to overwhelm the system by firing massive barrages of dozens of rockets at a time, with partial success.

According to the IDF, some 1,750 rockets and mortar shells have been fired toward Israel by terror groups in Gaza since fighting broke out on Monday evening.

March 2021 marked a decade since the groundbreaking system was first deployed. In that time, it has exceeded expectations, intercepting over 2,500 rockets and missiles in a range of weather conditions, and saving hundreds if not thousands of lives.

Rockets (R) are seen in the night sky fired towards Israel from Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on May 14, 2021, while Iron Dome interceptors rise to meet them (Photo by ANAS BABA / AFP)<
>
<
>

Hamas rockets light up the night sky as they are fired towards Israel from Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on May 14, 2021, while Israeli Iron Dome interceptors rise to meet them (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED / AFP)<
>
<
>

Rockets are seen in the night sky fired towards Israel from Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on May 14, 2021.(Photo by ANAS BABA / AFP)<
>
<
>

Hamas rockets and Iron Dome interceptors light up the night sky over the northern Gaza Strip on May 14, 2021.(Photo by MOHAMMED ABED / AFP)<
>
<
>

Hamas rockets and Iron Dome interceptors light up the night sky over the northern Gaza Strip on May 14, 2021.(Photo by MOHAMMED ABED / AFP)<
>
<
>