舞林大会

8月23日凌晨2时48分，经过10多个小时飞行，美国友人“赛考斯”（本名罗纳德·萨科尔斯基）抵达北京首都国际机场。《环球时报》记者和多家媒体早早守候在机场出口。    JERUSALEM -- Since Israel activated the Iron Dome in 2011, the cutting-edge rocket-defense system has intercepted thousands of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip.The system has given residents a sense of security, and Israelis can often be seen watching the projectiles flying through the skies and destroying their targets overhead.But the current war with Hamas might be its stiffest challenge yet.In just two weeks, Hamas has fired 7,000 rockets toward Israel, according to the Israeli military. That is more than any of the previous four wars fought between Israel and Hamas since the militant group seized power in Gaza in 2007. On Oct. 7 alone, the first day of fighting, Hamas launched at least 2,000 rockets, according to data from West Point. Lebanon's Hezbollah has also fired hundreds of rockets along Israel's northern front since the fighting began.Most of the rockets have been intercepted. But some have managed to get through, killing at least 11 people and hitting buildings as far away as Tel Aviv, according to Israeli officials.Here is a look at the accomplishments — and limitations — of the Iron Dome.The Iron Dome is a series of batteries that use radars to detect incoming short-range rockets and intercept them.Each battery has three or four launchers, 20 missiles, and a radar, according to Raytheon, the U.S. defense giant that co-produces the system with Israel's Rafael Defense Systems.Once the radar detects a rocket, the system determines whether the rocket is headed toward a populated area. If so, it launches a missile to intercept and destroy the rocket. If the system determines the rocket is headed to an open area or into the sea, it is allowed to land, thus conserving missiles. According to the military, all interceptions occur in Israeli airspace.The military declined to comment on how many Iron Dome batteries are currently deployed. But as of 2021, Israel had 10 batteries scattered around the country, each able to defend a territory of 60 square miles (155 square kilometers), according to Raytheon. It is roughly 90% effective, according to Rafael.But it can get overwhelmed if a mass barrage of rockets is fired, allowing some to slip through. While it has performed well so far, the risk could be raised if Hezbollah enters the war. Hezbollah has an estimated 150,000 rockets and missiles.Each missile costs an estimated $40,000 to $50,000, according to the Institute for National Security Studies, a Tel Aviv think tank.The U.S. has invested heavily in the system, helping with development costs and replenishing it during times of fighting.President Joe Biden has said he will ask Congress for $14.3 billion in military aid for Israel. The majority of that would help with air and missile defense systems, according to the White House.“We’re surging additional military assistance, including ammunition and interceptors to replenish Iron Dome,” Biden said.___Find more of AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war。刚一现身，“赛考斯”便笑着迎向镜头，用不太流利的中文激动地反复说道：“我回来了！”谈及对此次中国之行的期待，“赛考斯”对《环球时报》记者说：“我想见殷女士，想看看那片森林，也想见见那些将近30年没有见过的学生和以前的同事。”他说，这次回来“就像梦想成真”，“我从来没有想过这一天真的会到来”。“当飞机降落、我看到北京的灯光时，那一刻我才真正意识到，我回到了自己的第二故乡。

二 | ”“赛考斯”难掩激动地说道，“这里就像我的第二个家”，这种感受“有时候真的无法用语言表达”。当被问及对于20多年来中国发生的变化有什么感受时，刚刚落地的“赛考斯”对《环球时报》记者说，从照片中，他已经看到当年的沙漠变成了森林，听说现在的洛阳也变得更加美丽，“1999年的时候也还没有高铁”。“我从来没有想到，那里最终真的会变成一片森林。”他说，“殷女士才是真正的英雄，我只是想亲口对她说一声谢谢。

三 | ”23日下午，“赛考斯”将飞往内蒙古鄂尔多斯。主办方工作人员告诉《环球时报》记者，27年前接受他5000美元资助、坚持在毛乌素沙地植树治沙的劳模殷玉珍，将在那里等待与他重逢。1999年，“赛考斯”通过中美教师交换项目赴河南洛阳任教。27年后，一段跨越太平洋的“寻找‘赛考斯’”的故事让两人重新取得联系。如今，这位已经退休的美国历史老师再次踏上中国土地，他期待看到那片森林，也期待与老朋友、老学生再次相拥。

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环球时报记者 何珊 张艺滢（实习生）