TEL AVIV, Israel, March 26 (UPI) -- The Israeli army deployed an Iron Dome missile defense battery in central Israel for a drill simulating rocket attacks on Tel Aviv, officials said.
The drill to practice rapid deployment of the battery was to have taken place last month but was postponed because of rocket attacks from Gaza on southern Israel, Israel Radio said.
A statement released by the army said the "Iron Dome is in the process of being integrated operationally ... . From time to time it is deployed at various sites around the country … . Currently it is stationed in Gush Dan."
The missile defense battery will remain in the area for a number of days, Ynetnews.com said. Next week the country's fourth missile defense battery, which will eventually be deployed in the Tel Aviv region, will become fully operational, the Web site said.
Cmdr. Bentsi Sao, a senior police commander, told The Jerusalem Post Sunday police and emergency services were preparing for the eventuality long-range missiles fired from Gaza will hit central Israel.
