As first reported by the Agence France-Presse, the Israeli military has carried out a series of successful tests of its Hetz (Arrow) anti-missile system. The tests were reported to have succeeded perfectly. In recent years, Israel has been concentrating efforts on countering the threat of missile attacks from neighboring Arab states, as well as Iran.

Previous Hetz tests were designed to imitate the interception of Iran's Shahab-3, which has a range sufficient to reach Israel. Israeli defense officials have said that the testing of the Hetz system was intended as a message to Iran.

"The test is the answer to the advanced ballistic missiles that Iran develops or buys," deputy defense minister Efraim Sneh said in February after a successful test. "In the armaments race between Israel and Iran, Israel is ahead at this stage," he added.

Last week, Israel and the United States concluded a joint, computer-based exercise simulating a non-conventional missile strike that included another testing of the Hetz system.