It could happen while you are on the phone or standing in the shower. You might be relaxing at home or busy at work. Suddenly your phone flashes with an “extreme alert” warning of incoming rockets—displayed in four languages. Seconds later, the Home Front Command app erupts with its distinctive alarm.

For a moment, life freezes.

This time, you have received advance warning of ballistic missiles already on their way. Flying above the 100-kilometer Kármán line that marks the edge of space, they will take roughly seven to nine minutes to reach Israel from Iran, some 2,000 to 2,500 kilometers away.

Some will hit your area and the siren will wail, others will impact miles away and you will avoid the siren this time. Most will likely be intercepted. If there ever is an interceptor miss disaster inevitably follows. We all remember the direct hit on Central Tel Aviv and Beit Shemesh. Fortunately most have been intercepted, despite half being cluster bomb munitions designed to cause as much damage as possible. The air-raid siren inevitably wails across the city. If you have not already made your way to a bomb shelter or reinforced room, you rush to take cover.

Then come the explosions.

Interceptions send........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)