Azerbaijan to buy Israeli air defense system

By Ruslan Rehimov

BAKU (AA) - Defense Industry Minister Yavar Jamalov announced Saturday that Azerbaijan will purchase Israeli "Iron Dome" air defense system.

"There is an agreement between Azerbaijan and Israel on the procurement of this system," Jamalov told reporters.

Jamalov said Azerbaijan needed the system.

He also said Azerbaijan started to export products, adding: "We sell defense industry products to institutions of countries such as the U.S., Canada, African countries and South Korea."

Designed and manufactured in Israel, the short-range rocket intercept system began operating in 2011.

It has been widely used in thwarting rockets fired by Palestinian factions on Israel during the latest Operation Protective Edge on the Gaza Strip in July and August of 2014.