Anti-missile battery stationed near Israel's Jerusalem

The Israeli Defense Forces stationed an Iron Dome anti-missile battery near Jerusalem, a military spokesperson confirmed to Xinhua on Sunday. This is the first time that the battery, which intercepted thousands of rockets in Israel's southern and central communities in the Pillar of Defense campaign in November 2012, was stationed in the vicinity of Jerusalem. No further details were available regarding the deployment of the battery amid tensions surrounding a possible U.S. military strike on Syria, which might lead to rockets launched toward Israel from Syria and Lebanon. Six operational batteries have been deployed throughout the country. Last week, the Israeli security cabinet authorized a draft of hundreds of military reservists to the air-defense units and the northern command amid the mounting tensions. Later, the reservists were released and the high alert level has been somewhat lowered. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last week that Israel was "prepared for any scenario" and would know how to act to defend Israelis in case it was attacked. Other defense officials minimized the possibility of Israel being hit in retaliation to an U.S. strike on Syria, yet stressed the military and the defense establishment being ready for any scenario.