Total number of rockets, mortars launched from Gaza into Israel rises to over 70; Iron Dome intercepts 1 more missile; 15 Grads fired overnight; Hamas commander killed in IDF strike on Gaza.
By JPOST.COM STAFFPolice sapper carries Grad rocket 311(photo credit: Reuters)
Over five rockets were fired Saturday afternoon from Gaza towards Ashkelon and the western Negev. No injuries were reported.One rocket exploded in an industrial area south of Ashkelon, and another exploded near a town in the Ashkelon Coast Regional Council. Another three rockets fell in open areas.RELATED:Abbas condemns Israeli 'aggression' on Gaza StripPeres condemns school bus attack at UNSC envoy meetingIron Dome works in combat, intercepts Katyusha rocketThe Iron Dome system was able to intercept one of the rockets, bringing the total number of intercepted rockets since Thursday to eight.Since Saturday morning, over 40 rockets and mortars were fired from Gaza into the southern cities of Beersheva, Ashkelon, Sderot, Ofakim, and Kiryat Gat.Overnight Friday, 15 Grads were fired from Gaza into Israeli territory. The Iron Dome rocket-defense system intercepted five of them in the Beersheba and Ashkelon areas, Israel Radio reported.Saturday morning two additional Grad rockets were fired at Ofakim and 25 mortar shells were fired into the Eshkol Regional Council. No injuries were immediately reported. Dozens of mortar shells were fired overnight.Including shorter-range Kassams and mortars, over 40 projectiles were fired from the Strip since the escalation began on Thursday.Five Israelis were reportedly injured when scrambling to enter bomb shelters as rockets were being fired into their areas.
Three Hamas commanders were killed in an IAF airstrike early morning Saturday on a car in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Palestinian news agencies reported a fourth Hamas man was killed in an IDF strike late Saturday morning. The IDF said it was looking into the reports.Palestinian news agency Ma'an reported that other IDF strikes took place overnight in Gaza City, a Hamas training base in the northern Strip and a neighborhood in Khan Younis.Artillery strikes were reported in the Rafah area along the Strip's southern border with Egypt.Reuters contributed to this report.
