Since Operation Al-Aqsa Flood began on October 7, Israel has been waging a brutal war on the Gaza Strip that has left thousands of casualties and destroyed the infrastructure. In the meantime, the Israeli Iron Dome system intercepts rockets launched by the Palestinian resistance in retaliation to Israeli crimes and atrocities in the Gaza Strip.
As the aggression enters its fifth week, a claim is spreading on social media alleging that the Iron Dome system was funded with money paid by Iraq, via the U.N., in compensation to Israel for its shelling with 39 missiles in 1991.
Publishers on social media have been circulating the claim along with a video of an interview with former Iraqi Defence Minister, Abdul Qadir Al-Obeidi, in which he stated that Iraq paid $39 billion to Israel, which amounts to ten billion dollars for each missile, to Israel as compensation, and that the money was used to fund the Iron Dome project.
Misbar investigated the claim and discovered that Iraq paid a significantly lower amount than $39 billion in compensation to Israel for missiles launched towards it during the Gulf War. However, there is no evidence to suggest that these funds were used for the Iron Dome project.
Security Council Obligates Iraq To Compensate Those Affected in the Gulf War
After Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1991, an international coalition led by the United States waged a war against Iraq. Following the international coalition's victory in the war, Iraq was subjected to international sanctions, including a 12-year-long blockade, international monitoring of weapons of mass destruction, and compensations that the Security Council obligated Iraq to pay to countries, governments, organizations, and individuals affected by the invasion of Kuwait.
Value of Compensation Imposed on Iraq and its Beneficiaries
Misbar searched through the Security Council resolutions and discovered that a dedicated committee was formed to assess compensation claims, estimate their value, and identify the beneficiaries.
The compensation claims were valued at $352 billion, according to the United Nations. The committee approved $52.4 billion for various countries, including Kuwait which received the largest share, followed by Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and others.
The damages caused by the missiles that fell on Israel were estimated at 74,563,000 dollars, which is significantly lower than what Minister Al-Obeidi claimed. Referring back to media outlets, it was discovered that the distribution of compensation began gradually at the beginning of August 2001. The amount was divided among 68 companies and 31 individuals.
Was the Iraqi Compensation to Israel Used in Building the Iron Dome?
By looking through the website of the Israeli government-affiliated Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, which built the Iron Dome system, Misbar discovered that Israel started working on the Iron Dome system in 2007 and completed it in 2011.
Misbar also looked for the project’s financing sources and discovered that it was funded with $205 million from the U.S., given to Israel following the visit of former U.S. President Obama in 2010. This sum was regarded as an increase above the $3 billion that Israel had asked for in 2011 from the United States under the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program.
The Iron Dome
Iron Dome is one of Israel's defense systems, designed to intercept short-range missiles, mortar shells, drones, cruise missiles, and more. It is used by Israel to protect settlements from Hezbollah and Qassam missiles. The system's ability to react quickly to incoming projectiles, identify their trajectory, and destroy them is what makes it unique.
The Al-Qassam Brigades managed to breach the Iron Dome system in recent years, particularly during the Battle of Saif Al-Quds in 2021, by launching intense missile barrages that hindered the system's ability to monitor and react. Thanks to this vulnerability, Al-Qassam Brigades were allowed to repeatedly strike Tel Aviv.
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