IDF Officer Who Intercepted Rockets above Israel: “We are always ready

http://www.idfblog.com/2014/01/16/idf-officer-intercepted-rockets-israel-always-ready/

Not many soldiers finish a day of work like Lieutenant Aviel Perry, a soldier who serves as the commander of an IDF Iron Dome battery. Early Thursday morning, he intrecepted five Gaza rockets headed straight for the Israeli city of Ashkelon.

At 1:00 AM, Lt. Perry was on duty in an Iron Dome battery near Ashkelon. Although the battery’s last interception was two months ago, Lt. Perry and his soldiers always remain alert for the possibility of a rocket attack from Gaza. “We have prepared soldiers to react to an incident at any moment,” he says. “We must always remain vigilant and alert, even when we think that an upcoming shift will be normal and uneventful.”

IDF Iron Dome Officer, Lt. Perry

When five rockets from Gaza came soaring toward Israel, soldiers in the Iron Dome battery had only seconds to react. Realizing that the rockets would strike populated areas, they made a quick decision to activate the Iron Dome battery. Despite extraordinary pressure, their swift actions resulted in the interception of all five rockets.

Moments after stopping the rocket attack, Lt. Perry was filled with pride and satisfaction. “You can not describe the feeling of stopping a rocket that could hurt, injure or kill civilians. This is what we prepare for all the time – to be there at the right time and do the right thing.”

“The environment in the battery is warm and like family,” he adds. “Events like these increase the motivation of soldiers, and we prove that above all we are fighters who save lives.”