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Following a lull, an incendiary balloon was found in southern Israel.
By United with Israel Staff
An Israeli resident in the south discovered an incendiary balloon in the Lachish Regional Council district on Tuesday. Israel’s bomb squad neutralized the device.
Security personnel were summoned by local officials, and an Israel Police sapper confirmed that the improvised explosive device (IED) attached to a balloon was meant to cause harm in the Holy Land.
Israeli police issued a statement following the find: “We reiterate once again, in the event where a suspicious object, including a kite or/and balloon, is found – either by an adult or a child – do not touch it. Call the police and keep curious people away from it until the officers arrive.”
Palestinians construct the devices from conventional military materials, like artillery shells, with a detonating mechanism attached. They also make explosives from unconventional materials, such as kites, balloons and condoms.
In December, Israel unveiled its first-of-a-kind laser system, “Light Blade,” that stops airborne incendiary devices.
Developed by three civilian engineers working with Ben-Gurion University researchers and the technology branches of the Israel Police and Israel Defense Forces, Light Blade technology resembles Israel’s Iron Dome defense system, credited with shooting down terrorist rockets. It works by locking onto its target and firing a laser beam that destroys the balloon, kite or drone mid-air.
According to reports, it has an effective range of 2 kilometers (1.2 miles), day or night.
Light Blade is expected to take down incendiary balloons and kites, as well as drones terrorist send into Israel. These terrorist devices have caused destructive fires in Israel’s southern communities.
The Hamas and Palestinian arson campaign began in April 2018. Destroyed thus far are about 10,000 acres of forest and farmlands in Israel, causing millions of dollars of damage. Environmental experts say it will take at least 15 years to rehabilitate the vegetation and wildlife that have been destroyed.
Light Blade “provides a near conclusive response to everything relating to balloons and kites, and delivers a safe and effective solution to the drone threat,” said Border Police Commissioner Maj. Gen. Yaakov Shabtai, who led the project, Israel Hayom reports.
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