The Israel Defense Force’s preliminary investigation into the rocket strike that killed two Golan residents in their car on Tuesday revealed that no interceptor was launched because the Air Force classifies roads as “open areas.”
The Air Force, which oversees Israel’s air defense systems, prioritizes protecting “populated areas.”
Nir and Noa Baranes were killed when a rocket fired by Hezbollah directly hit their car on Road 91 at the Nof Junction in the Golan Heights, a 10-minute drive from their home on Kibbutz Ortal. Road 91 is one of the Golan’s key traffic arteries, and there are several army bases along that road that were being targeted by Hezbollah. However, Home Front Command apps warning civilians of missile attacks do not alert the public about attacks on military facilities.
In a further twist, the army has been disrupting GPS signals in northern Israel in a bid to scramble the signals of enemy missiles and drones.