Israel's Defense Ministry said it has successfully tested a high-tech system designed to intercept incoming rockets.A ministry statement says the Iron Dome system successfully intercepted rockets in tests carried out this week.
The statement called the tests a "milestone" in the system's development.
Defense officials said today that this was the first time the system had intercepted rockets in a test.
The system fires missiles that home in on incoming short and medium-range rockets of the type fired by Palestinian and Lebanese militants.
Millions of Israelis are now in range of rockets fired by Hamas and Hezbollah.
Israel is spending more than USD 200 million on the system, which is supposed to be operational in 2010.