Israel Unveils New Laser System to Shoot Down Terror Balloons from Gaza

JERUSALEM, Israel – Israeli police are testing a new weapon to defend itself against the terror threat of explosive balloons sent across the border with Gaza.

Israeli police stationed on the Gaza border are now using a new laser-guided system "capable of shooting down balloons," Israel police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.

The new laser system is greatly needed. For more than two years, terrorists have attacked Israel, destroying land by sending fire kites and balloons packed with explosives across the border.

In the past month alone, the weapons have started more than 450 fires in southern Israel. Fortunately, the new laser system deployed by Israeli police is succeeding against this threat.  

"The latest new guidance system has a success rate of more than 90% of shooting down the balloons. And we're doing that in order to prevent them from exploding inside community areas and causing injuries or possibly killing people," said Rosenfeld.

Dubbed "Lahav Or, Hebrew for Light Blade, the system, developed by OptiDefense, is designed to work alongside aircraft.

Ben Gurion University Professor and CEO of OptiDefense, Amiel Ishaaya is co-inventor of Lahav Or. He says this laser system could have an even greater use beyond Israel.

"We don't see any other balloon threat in the world except for here – maybe in South Korea or North Korea, or between that border. But the main business we see in it is anti-drone, anti-drone is a worldwide threat that is coming up," Ishaya told CBN News.

Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, recently announced a ceasefire so Israel would restore critical fuel shipments to Gaza.

If the past is any indication, Israelis realize ceasefires don't last very long.  that's why the laser system is such a Godsend.