Israel deploy missile defence against Iraq

Israel has deployed nine anti-missile batteries across the country in case of any Iraqi retaliation if the US launches a war on Baghdad.

A map showing the seven Patriot and two Arrow batteries was published today in the Yediot Ahronot newspaper.

It showed three batteries of the US-made Patriots in the greater Tel Aviv area, which was the target of most of the 39 Iraqi Scud missiles fired at Israel during the 1991 Gulf War.

The Scuds, fitted with conventional warheads, caused damage but few casualties. Another picture showed Patriots near Haifa University in the centre of the coastal city.