News
Gaza rockets continue to target Israelis from Eilat to northern border
There was a slight reduction in the number of rockets fired at Israel yesterday. However, Israelis from the southernmost city of Eilat to the country’s northern border found themselves under rocket fire.
In total, 85 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel yesterday with at least 15 thought to have been intercepted by the Iron Dome anti-missile system. During the morning, rocket fire concentrated on southern communities. In Beer Sheva, two young Bedouin sisters were wounded by shrapnel – a 10 year old was in serious condition, her 15 year old sister moderately wounded. At least two rockets were intercepted over the Tel Aviv area, shrapnel reportedly falling in nearby Petach Tikva.
Early yesterday evening, Army Radio reported that a rocket fired from Syria exploded in open territory near an Israeli community in the northern Golan Heights, starting a fire. Later on in the evening, a rocket was fired from Lebanon, landing near Rosh Hanikra, causing no damage. During the night, sirens wailed in Eilat for the first time since Operation Protective Edge was launched a week ago. Three rockets landed, causing damage to several cars and ten people were treated for light injuries. Haaretz says that the rockets were thought to have been fired from Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. Hamas’s military wing tweeted that, “this is the first time Israel has been attacked from all fronts – Gaza, Lebanon, the Golan Heights and Sinai.”
Also yesterday, Hamas launched an unmanned drone which was shot down by Israeli forces near Ashdod. Hamas claimed that it had launched an additional two drones to gather intelligence.
Meanwhile, Israel continued to strike targets in the Gaza Strip yesterday, although with less intensity than in previous days. According to the IDF, 132 targets were hit yesterday including 53 concealed rocket launching pads and eleven weapons storage facilities. Palestinian reports said the home of the leader of Hamas’s military wing was also hit and that around 170 Palestinians have been killed in air strikes during the last week.