BICOM

Following several days of high tension, Hamas launched a huge burst of rocket fire at southern and central Israel yesterday evening, prompting Israel to launch a staged offensive, Operation Protective Edge to quell the rocket attacks.

During the past two weeks, rockets have targeted Israel on an almost daily basis from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, increasing during recent days. Israel last week bolstered its military forces near the Gaza border and handed Hamas an ultimatum to stop the rocket attacks or else face the prospect of increased military action.

At around 8pm yesterday, around 80 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip at targets reaching central Israel. Air raid sirens were triggered in major cities including Ashkelon, Ashdod, Beit Shemesh and Rehovot, considered a Tel Aviv suburb. The IDF said that the Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepted seven rockets over Ashdod and five over Netivot. The military wing of Hamas said it had fired dozens of rockets and threatened to also target Tel Aviv. It is the first time that Hamas has admitted to rocket fire during the current tension.

In response to the serious escalation, the IDF announced last night that it had launched Operation Protective Edge, “in order to stop the terror Israel’s citizens face on a daily basis.” YNet news says that the operation is likely to be limited to air strikes aimed at specific individuals and locations for the time being. However, 1,500 reservists were called up yesterday as a precaution in case of a further escalation.

In the opening hours of the operation, Israel’s Air Force struck around 50 targets in the Gaza Strip, including 18 underground rocket launchers, command and control facilities and the homes of Hamas militants involved in rocket fire.  A further eight rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel this morning.

According to Haaretz, Israeli ministers want to refrain from a large-scale military operation for now, but have instructed the IDF to prepare for an expansion of operations if necessary.