Israel has carried out a successful test of its Arrow missile, the defence ministry has said.
One of the missiles was fired at night and destroyed what Israeli media said was a target similar to Iran's long-range Shahab-3 missile.
The test took place as Iran celebrated the 28th anniversary of its Islamic revolution.
Israel has considered Iran its greatest threat since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in Iraq in 2003, analysts say.
'Message to Iran'
"This evening's successful test reinforces Israel's readiness... against external threats at the extremes of its operational envelope," said Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz.
The Arrow missile was fired from a base south of Tel Aviv at a missile launched from an aircraft over the eastern Mediterranean at a high altitude.
This was the first test of the Arrow missile to be conducted at night.
Israeli public television called the test a "message to Iran".
The anti-ballistic missile system was developed jointly with the United States after Israel came under attack by Iraqi Scud missiles during the first Gulf War.
Some Western nations, including Israel, fear Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons.
Iran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only.
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