JERUSALEM, Palestine / ISTANBUL

Israel’s Defense Ministry on Thursday ordered a significant acceleration in the production of its Arrow missile defense system, which is designed to intercept long-range ballistic missiles.

In a statement, the ministry said Director-General Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir signed an order to expedite the production process for Arrow missiles.

The Arrow system – known in Hebrew as “Hetz” – forms one of three tiers in Israel’s air defense network, alongside the Iron Dome, which targets short- and medium-range rockets, and David’s Sling, which intercepts medium- to long-range threats.

Under the new agreement, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will supply the Defense Ministry with a large additional quantity of Arrow missiles. The system is jointly developed and produced in cooperation with the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA). The American company Stark Aerospace is also contributing to its production.

The ministry claimed the Arrow system had demonstrated “exceptional interception capabilities” during recent military operations, including the Gaza war and a 12-day conflict with Iran.

However, international media outlets, including Britain’s Telegraph newspaper, reported several failures by Israel’s defense systems to intercept missiles launched by Iran and Yemen’s Houthi group. One Houthi missile reportedly struck near Ben Gurion Airport, while Iranian barrages hit several sensitive strategic and military sites, resulting in dozens of casualties and damage estimated in billions.

On Wednesday, Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the Red Sea port of Eilat will suspend operations starting Sunday due to mounting debt, with the losses attributed to a prolonged naval blockade enforced by Houthi missile threats.

Last month, Israeli daily Maariv cited political and security assessments suggesting that the recent ceasefire with Iran did not mark the end of hostilities, and that a new round of conflict “could erupt soon” – a view echoed by Iranian and international commentators.