"Iron Dome and other anti-missile systems have transformed Israel's security. Samaan offers a compelling, thoroughly researched, and highly readable account of Iron Dome's history, how it shaped Israeli doctrine and cooperation with the United States, and how this and similar systems are changing the nature of conflict in the Middle East and beyond." -- Daniel Byman, Georgetown University, USA "Samaan's 'biography' of Iron Dome is a rare blend of technical, bureaucratic and political history backed by careful reading and extensive interviews. The Israeli anti-missile system has become a technological icon, and this is an excellent guide to its strengths, its limits, and its strategic implications for Israel and the broader Middle East." -- Eliot A. Cohen, Center for Strategic and International Studies, USA "The Iron Dome may be 'the most iconic missile defense system today,' and Jean-Loup Samaan captures its strategic significance with clarity, vivid storytelling, and sharp analysis. Coming in the aftermath of the October 7th Hamas attacks, this book offers novel, timely insights into the system's history and its role in reshaping Israel's strategic balance between offense and defense. This essential and highly recommended study reveals how a single technology became a national symbol, transformed Israeli security thinking, and influenced global perceptions of modern warfare.
" -- Sanam Vakil, Royal Institute of International Affairs - Chatham House, UK "Samaan has written a fascinating biography of Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system. More broadly, he walks his readers through the cat-and-mouse game of developing new mobile missile and missile defense technology and shows how these technologies have affected the evolution of military strategic thinking as well as the relationship between civil and military decision-makers. For those looking to understand how artificial intelligence, mobile missiles, and hypersonic technologies may transform future conflict in the Middle East, this book offers a compelling read" -- Brandon Friedman, Tel Aviv University, Israel.