Israel, US test ballistic missile interceptor
Jerusalem, Jan 22 : Israel said it carried out a successful test Tuesday with the United States of ballistic missile interceptors jointly developed by the allies, in the face of growing tensions with Iran.
The test came a day after the latest deadly exchange of fire between Israel and Iranian forces operating in Syria.
The Arrow 3 interceptor system, designed to shoot down missiles above the atmosphere, was deployed at air force bases across Israel two years ago.
"Our enemies who seek to destroy us should know that Israel's clenched fist will reach all those who seek our ill and we will settle accounts with them," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement hailing the test.
"We will continue to successfully develop the most advanced weapons systems in the world in order to ensure the security of the citizens of Israel and the State of Israel."
On Tuesday Netanyahu toured the aerospace plant in central Israel where the Arrow missiles are produced.
The Arrow system, partly financed by the United States, was developed and produced by Israeli Aerospace Industries in partnership with Boeing.
An Israeli defence ministry statement said Tuesday that the system's radars had detected the target, a replica missile launched from central Israel.
"At the right moment, the Arrow 3 interceptor was launched toward the target and successfully completed its mission," it said.
Arrow 3 is intended to serve as Israel's highest-altitude missile interception system.
Systems for intercepting incoming missiles at lower altitudes are either already deployed or close to becoming operational.
In December, Israel's arch-enemy Iran confirmed it had carried out a missile test, after Western powers sharply criticised a launch of medium-range ballistic missiles.
Western powers said the missiles were capable of carrying nuclear warheads and therefore violated a landmark 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
Tehran says its missile programme is "non-negotiable".
Israel had opposed the deal between Iran and major powers, which lifted a wide range of international sanctions in exchange for limits on the Islamic republic's nuclear programme.
Iran reined in most of its nuclear programme under the 2015 deal, but has continued to develop its ballistic missile technology.
"The success of this test is a major milestone in the operational capabilities of the State of Israel and its ability to defend itself against current and future threats in the region," the Israeli defence ministry said Tuesday.
The system passed a series of tests before being deployed in 2017, and the ministry did not give further details on the purpose of Tuesday's test.
Israel has vowed to prevent Iran from entrenching itself in neighbouring Syria.
Israeli forces carried out a series of strikes in recent days on what it said were Iranian facilities in its war-torn neighbour, after a rocket was fired on Sunday at the Golan Heights.
A monitor said Tuesday 21 people, mostly Iranian, died in the raids. Israel accused Iranian forces of firing the surface-to-surface rocket, which was intercepted by the Iron Dome system.
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'No more support to BJP': Patnaik asks BJD Rajya Sabha MPs to emerge as strong opposition
Bhubaneswar (PTI): BJD president Naveen Patnaik held a meeting with his party's nine Rajya Sabha MPs on Monday and asked them to emerge as a "vibrant and strong" opposition in the Upper House of Parliament during its upcoming session that would begin on June 27.
At the meeting, Patnaik also asked the lawmakers to raise issues concerning the state's interests in a befitting manner.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the party's leader in Rajya Sabha Sasmit Patra said, "The BJD MPs this time will not be confined to speaking on issues only, but are determined to agitate if the BJP-led government at the Centre ignores Odisha's interest."
Besides raising the demand for special status to Odisha, the BJD MPs will raise the issues of poor mobile connectivity and low density of bank branches in the state, he said.
"Odisha's demand for revision of coal royalty has been ignored by the Centre for the last 10 years. This is causing great loss to the people of the state who are deprived of their rightful share," he added.
Maintaining that the nine MPs in Rajya Sabha will act as a strong opposition, Patra said Patnaik has given clear instructions to fight for the rights of the state's people in the Parliament.
When asked whether BJD would maintain its earlier stance of giving issue-based support to the BJP-led government, he said, "No more support to BJP, only opposition. We may go to any extent to protect the interests of Odisha."
Later, Patra told PTI, "There is no question of supporting the BJP. The BJD president asked us to act as a strong and vibrant opposition if the NDA government continues to ignore the genuine demands of Odisha."
The BJD has nine MPs in the Rajya Sabha, while it failed to win any seat in the recently held Lok Sabha elections, for the first time since its formation in 1997.
The BJD also lost power in the state with the BJP bringing an end to its government of 24 years.
The BJD not only supported the BJP in Parliament on different issues over the last few years but also helped Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw get elected to Rajya Sabha in 2019 and 2024.
At a meeting with senior BJD leaders on Sunday, Patnaik had said, "You all know that the BJP has got four seats more than the majority mark in the Odisha assembly. At the Centre also, it does not have a majority on its own. Hence, you should work hard, stay united, and strengthen the party."
