Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system has intercepted nearly 99% of rockets and missiles launched by Hamas and Hezbollah since 2023, according to Yuval Steinitz, chairman of state-owned defense contractor Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is the primary manufacturer of the Iron Dome system, which was developed with significant U.S. funding. The company also produces components used in the Arrow missile defense system, while Israel Aerospace Industries manufactures the Arrow interceptors.

Steinitz said Monday that the system has played a critical role in protecting Israel since the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023, which triggered fighting in Gaza and along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon.

Speaking at a conference hosted by the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, Steinitz said Hamas and Hezbollah have fired roughly 40,000 rockets at Israel since the start of the war.

“Iron Dome intercepted most of them with success rates that (are) not 100% but close to 100%. It’s around 98%, even 99%, so it’s not perfect, but almost,” Steinitz said.

Steinitz also said Iran had launched around 1,500 ballistic missiles at Israel during two rounds of fighting since 2024, adding that “only several dozens” were not intercepted by Israeli air defense systems.

His comments came amid reports that Israel’s stockpile of missile interceptors, particularly long-range Arrow interceptors, had been strained by ongoing regional fighting. 

Steinitz dismissed concerns over shortages, saying Israel still had sufficient interceptor supplies, but did not provide details on current stockpiles or production capacity.

Steinitz said the Iron Dome system has been essential in keeping Israel’s economy and public institutions functioning during wartime.

“Without the Iron Dome missile defence system largely funded by the United States, Israel’s economy would be ‘totally paralysed’ as people would not go to work and schools would be closed,” he said.

“We would (also) have bloodshed in all our major cities… several thousands of Israeli civilians would be killed without Iron Dome,” he added.