A battery of Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system. Photo: IDF.

JNS.org – The Israel Defense Forces is reinforcing missile defense systems along the border with Syria following a major military confrontation between Israel, Syria and Iran which culminated in the first battle loss of an Israeli fighter jet in 35 years.

Eyewitnesses reported on Sunday seeing multiple missile defense batteries making their way north, local media reported. The army refused to comment on the reports.

One Israeli family in the Jezreel Valley which had awoken early to take a bike trip Saturday morning were greeted by the whistle of shrapnel from a Syrian missile falling in their backyard, according to a report in Israel’s Ynet news website. After calling the police to report the incident, they continued on their outing.

Israel has an array of air defense systems specialized against a variety of missiles, including the Iron Dome against short range missiles, and David’s Sling and Arrow systems to intercept medium to longer range missiles, and Patriot missiles to intercept drones.

In recent months, Israel has deployed multiple systems to protect Israeli airspace from Syrian and Iranian-backed aggressions. In September, an Iranian-built drone entered the demilitarized zone between Syria and Israel and was shot down by a Patriot missile from the northern city of Safed.

In April, three surface-to-air missiles fired against IAF jets were successfully intercepted by the Arrow system, the first time Israel deployed the device.