Israel's 5th Iron Dome battery. Photo: MOD.

A fifth Iron Dome battery is now fully operational in Eilat. The IDF said the deployment was part of the general operational procedure of the defensive system.

The mayor of Israel’s southernmost city, Meir HaLevi,  welcomed the news, telling Israel’s Channel 10, “Over the border are elements hostile to Eilat and the state of Israel. The Iron Dome unit is a precaution in case of escalation.”

Several rockets and mortar rounds have landed in southern Israel in recent days.  Eilat has been able to avoid both the recent salvoes and those that rained down on Israel in November during Israel’s eight-day conflict with Gaza terrorists. But it has not been totally immune to the rocket fire. Just last August two grad rockets fired from the Sinai struck the city.