Did Israel just use its secret weapon? Iron Beam reportedly intercepts missiles | VIDEO

Tel Aviv: Israel may have deployed its new laser-based air defence system, Iron Beam, during a fresh wave of Hezbollah missile attacks amid the ongoing US-Israeli campaign against Iran, according to Israeli defence sources and a video released by the Israel War Room.

The escalation followed the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which triggered a sharp response from the Lebanon-based Hezbollah. The group launched a barrage of missiles targeting Israeli positions and what it described as hostile regional assets aligned with the United States.

Israeli authorities said several incoming projectiles were intercepted mid-air by Iron Beam, describing the system as a “new era of warfare” capability. Footage circulating online showed multiple rockets lighting up the night sky before being neutralised almost instantly, with no visible debris reaching the ground.

The Israel War Room said on X that the engagement marked the “first-ever use” of the laser system in combat conditions. There was no independent confirmation of the claim.

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What is Iron Beam?

Iron Beam is a 100-kilowatt-class High Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS) designed to complement Israel’s layered air defence network. Unlike traditional interceptor missiles, the laser engages targets at the speed of light and can fire repeatedly without the need for physical munitions, giving it what developers describe as an “unlimited magazine” and near-zero cost per interception.

The system is intended primarily to counter short-range rockets, mortars, drones and other small projectiles that are difficult or expensive to intercept using conventional systems.

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Israeli defence officials say larger threats, including ballistic missiles, will continue to be handled by the Arrow-2 and Arrow-3 systems, while Iron Dome remains the primary shield against medium-range rockets.

At least 555 people have been killed in Iran so far by the US-Israeli campaign, the Iranian Red Crescent Society said, and more than 130 cities across the country have come under attack. Eleven people have been killed in Israel, according to authorities there.

A joint attack by the US and Israel against Iran on February 28 triggered a war in West Asia, and Iran's Supreme Leader was killed in the attack.