IDF says 10 rockets fired at southern Israel from Gaza
LAST UPDATED: 12/09/2011 20:10
Iron dome intercepts projectile fired at Ashdod; Palestinians say civilian killed, 13 wounded in IDF response to 10 rockets fired into southern Israel from Gaza.
![Kassam rockets being fired from Gaza Strip [file]](../HttpHandlers/ShowImage.ashx?ID=180746 "Kassam rockets being fired from Gaza Strip [file]")
Kassam rockets being fired from Gaza Strip [file] Photo: Nikola Solic / Reuters
10 rockets fired from the Gaza Strip exploded in southern Israel Friday, the latest
in a spate of rocket attacks in the past 24 hours, according to the IDF Spokesperson's Office.
Three rockets exploded in the Eshkol Regional Council shortly after 8:00 p.m., and one was fired towards the Shaar Hangev Regional council. In the afternoon, an Iron Dome anti-rocket defense system battery intercepted one projectile fired toward Ashdod. Two others were fired shortly after 5:00 p.m. towards the Be'er Tuvia
Regional Council. Air sirens rang in Ashdod and the surrounding areas
minutes before. No one was injured and no damage was caused in the
ensuing blasts.
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In the morning, two
rockets exploded in the Ashkelon Beach Regional Council shortly after 12
p.m. and another in the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council around 9 a.m. No
damage or injuries were reported.
Overnight, the Israel Air Force struck targets connected with terrorist
activity in the Gaza Strip in response to rockets Thursday, the IDF Spokesman's Office said in a statement. IAF
aircraft recorded direct hits on a center of terrorist activity in
southern Gaza, as well as an additional terror target in northern Gaza.
The
IDF reiterated in the statement that it holds Hamas responsible for all
terror activity emanating from Gaza. The IDF maintained that it will continue to respond
forcefully to attacks on Israeli citizens.
Palestinian medical
sources said that one civilian was killed and 13 others were wounded,
including women and children, in the air strikes.
The IDF said
Friday that it regretted any harm to uninvolved civilians, which it said was caused by the
presence of explosives and weapons at the targeted sites, including
rockets. The airstrikes, the IDF Spokesman said in a statement, were
accurate and direct hits on terror targets were recorded.
The statement laid responsibility for the casualties on Hamas, "which chooses to
operate in the heart of civilian population centers and uses human
shields."
The
earlier Palestinian rocket attacks on the South came in response to a previous
Israel Air Force strike which killed two suspected terrorists traveling
in a car near Gaza City.
The IDF said the men had been in the midst of plotting an attack against Israel to be launched from Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.
Anticipating retaliation, the army raised the level of alert along
the Gaza border and warned southern residents to remain indoors. Eight rockets were fired Thursday, but no casualties or damage were reported in any of the attacks.
Yaakov Lappin contributed to this report.