Israel Deploys Patriot Missiles in Haifa

Jerusalem (ANTARA/Xinhua-OANA) - A Patriot surface-to-air missile battery was deployed in the northern Israeli city of Haifa on Monday, two days after an unmanned aircraft breached Israeli airspace from the Mediterranean, local media reported. Israel Defense Forces officials were quoted by Ha'aretz daily as saying that the deployment was not an emergency measure, and such systems are deployed to the area from time to time. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officials also refused to comment on the possible connection between the drone, which was intercepted on Saturday, and the Patriot missile system deployed to Haifa, according to the newspaper. The deployment comes shortly before the beginning of a joint comprehensive drill between the IDF and United States Military commands, which has been called AC12. The drill entails testing the active defense capabilities of the two military organizations. The Israeli air force shot down an unidentified aerial vehicle that penetrated Israel's airspace on Saturday. The IDF said that the drone arrived in Israel from the west after flying over the Mediterranean and the Gaza Strip.(*)