U.S. MILITARY BASE OPENS TO AID IN MISSILE DEFENCE

BISLACH AIRBASE, ISRAEL Israel and the U.S. inaugurated the first American military base on Israeli soil on Monday, which will serve dozens of soldiers operating a missile defence system.

The move comes at a time of growing Israeli concerns about arch-enemy Iran’s development of long-range missiles. Together with the U.S., Israel has developed a multilayered system of defences against everything from long-range guided missile attacks from Iran to crude rockets fired from Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.

The base’s opening is largely symbolic and isn’t expected to bring operational changes. But the Israeli military says that along with other measures, it sends a message of readiness.

“It’s a message that says Israel is better prepared. It’s a message that says Israel is improving the response to threats,” said Brig. Gen. Zvika Haimovich, the commander of Israel’s aerial defence.

The base is located within an existing Israeli air force base and will operate under Israeli military directives.

Israel’s multi-tier missile defence system includes the Arrow, designed to intercept long-range ballistic missiles in the stratosphere with an eye on Iran, and Iron Dome, which defends against short-range rockets from the Gaza Strip. David’s Sling is meant to counter the type of medium-range missiles possessed by Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants.