TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- A defense system used to protect Israeli cities from rocket attacks will be deployed in Tel Aviv for a drill, the Israeli military said Sunday.
Known as the Iron Dome battery, the movable shield against medium-range rockets known to be used by Hamas and Hezbollah is part of Israel's multi-layered defense capability, and will be set up in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area for the first time for several days.
The military stressed the deployment of anti-rocket equipment is a part of pre-planned training exercises, although the Iron Dome has never appeared in central Israel.
"The battery is being placed in various locations from time to time," the military's public affairs unit said.
Ynet News, an Israeli news agency, said Sunday that although terrorist organizations have yet to fire rockets into the Tel Aviv area, security officials are aware the groups own rockets with the capability, and expect the city to be the main target in upcoming conflicts.