Tel Aviv - Israel has successfully tested a new rocket defence system, designed to protect its citizens against attacks from the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, media reports said Thursday.

The system, named "Iron Dome," could be operational within a year, a statement from the Defence Ministry said.

The government had budgeted in February 2008 for the rocket defence system, which is to be primarily deployed in the western Negev desert region to protect the town of Sderot bordering on the Gaza Strip.

The 210-million-dollar system could be deployed against rockets with a range of up to 70 kilometres, according to reports.

The Israeli military went to war with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, in December 2008 because of persistent rocket-fire from the territory targeting Israeli civilians. (dpa)