BLACKWELL: Well, as we've reported, there have been far fewer casualties on the Israeli side in recent violence in the Middle East. Israelis claim it's all due to the efficiency of their Iron Dome missile defense system.</s>PAUL: Yes, it basically intercepts and destroys missiles sent by Hamas. But CNN's Tom Foreman takes a look at how this thing works.</s>TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey Christi. Hey Victor. Just as Hamas is getting better getting further range out of the rockets at fires out of Gaza toward targets like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, so, too, Israel has substantially improved its Iron Dome missile defense system. So much so that they're now claiming 90 percent effectiveness in neutralizing the rocket effect out of Gaza. So how does this work? Well, there are three key phases, anytime something is launched headed toward Israel, automatically very high- tech radar and camera systems start tracking it. And they start to figure out, how big is it, how fast is it going, where's it going? That's the detection phase. Next comes the analysis and targeting phase. What that means are those same computers sort of saying, look, if one of these rockets is going off in the water, or is going to some of the rural place where there is no one to hit, they just let them go. But if one of these is headed towards a real target where people and property can be hit and hurt, then the third phase kicks in, the destruction phase. In that phase, the same computers communicate with batteries up to mirror missiles. Each one is about ten feet long. They weigh -- they carry about 24 pounds of high explosives. And those missiles are launched toward the target. They are guided right to it, and then they blow apart, everything in that airspace with great efficiency. This is not cheap. The United States has kicked in about $235 million to this system which is recently developed by an Israeli company. And each individual defensive missile cost about $62,000. But undeniably, the Israeli authorities will say, it is money well spent for a system they now consider essential. Christie? Victor?</s>PAUL: Are you up bright and early? Because we have an awful lot to talk to you about this morning.
Israeli Claim Small Casualties Due to Iron Dome