Global Security Newswire

Despite the victory of U.S.-led forces in Iraq, Israel still faces ballistic missile threats from other Middle Eastern countries and it needs to expand its missile defenses, Uzi Rubin, a former Israeli Defense Ministry official, said last week (see GSN, April 15).

Rubin highlighted the growing missile threats posed by several countries, particularly Iran.

“Iran has passed the point of no return,” Rubin said during a breakfast sponsored by the National Defense University Foundation. “Their missiles will be developed and deployed. Even a change in regime will not stop them,” he said.

These continued threats make it important for Israel to maintain and improve its missile defense capabilities, according to Rubin. He praised the performance of the Israeli-built Arrow missile interceptor and the U.S.-built Patriot 2 missile interceptor during the recent war with Iraq. More Arrow and Patriot batteries, however, are needed, Rubin said.

“We need to look at our assets … we need more battery assets,” Rubin said (Kerry Gildea, Defense Daily, May 2).