Islamic Jihad upgrades rocket launchers

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Islamic Jihad operatives said they used an upgraded launcher to fire rockets at Israel on Thursday. The new launcher, developed by Islamic Jihad, can fire up to six rockets at a time, the group said. Previous launchers had been able to only fire single missiles. The group said it used the new launcher to send 10 of its homemade rockets toward the Sufa cargo crossing on the Israel-Gaza border. The new launcher is part of an attempt by Islamic Jihad to increase its ability to strike Israel. In November the group developed a longer-range homemade rocket with double the reach of its predecessor, or 18- to 20 kilometers (11-12 miles).