Iron Dome intercepts militant rockets

Smoke trails of rockets streak through the sky after Palestinian militants fired a volley of missiles at Israel on Nov. 19 from Gaza City. Hundreds of rockets have been fired into Israel.

A Hamas militant carries a mock-up of a Qassam rocket during a march on Dec. 14, 2006, in the Nuseirat refugee camp, Gaza Strip. Qassam rockets are homemade missiles constructed from pipes and fitted with a small warhead. They are propelled with a solid fuel made from sugar and fertilizer.

Israeli children look at the Iron Dome missile defense system on Nov. 17 in Gush Dan. There are five Iron Dome batteries and most are located near Gaza. The system has an 80% success rate.

Palestinian militants launch rockets from the Gaza Strip on Nov. 17 near Sderot, Israel.

A Feb. 19, 2003, photograph shows the wreckage of a Palestinian Qassam missile in an industrial area in Sderot.

An Israeli Iron Dome missile is launched against an incoming Palestinian rocket on Nov. 17 near Be'er Sheva, southern Israel. The missile costs $40,000.

Palestinian militants launch missiles on Nov. 17 from positions in the Gaza Strip.

An Israeli missile launched from the Iron Dome defense system on Nov. 15 hits a target. When the system detects a missile launch it quickly determines the target's flight path. If it is headed toward populated areas it fires an interceptor missile fitted with a special warhead that strikes the incoming rocket within seconds.