Summary of Today’s Terror Attacks Emanating from Gaza and IDF Activity
Following Thurday’s multi-pronged terror attack near the city of Eilat and the constant stream of rockets fired into Israel from Gaza in the last couple of days, the Israeli Air Force targeted attacking four terror sites in Gaza, destroying a weapons storage facility and two smuggling tunnels.
An overall total of more than 60 rockets were fired today from Gaza into major population centers in southern Israel. More than 500,000 Israelis were forced to spend the day in bomb shelters. Terrorists fired Qassam rockets, Grad missiles and mortar shells into the cities of Ashdod, Be’er Sheva, Sderot, Qiryat Gat, Qiryat Melachi and Ashkelon; as well as the Eshkol Regional Council. Since Thursday’s multi-pronged terror attack, terrorists in Gaza fired more than 90 rockets into Israel.
Five people were injured today, three severely. Today, the Israel Defense Forces used the Iron Dome to intercept several rockets. Following an increase in terror, IAF targeted a squad of terrorists in northern Gaza, shortly after they launched mortar shells at Israel.
Today, IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Benny Gantz, held a briefing and visited the Iron Dome defense system, meeting its soldiers. The IDF also exposed weaponry found on the terrorists behind the multi-pronged terror attack.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak released a statement expressing regret for “the deaths of Egyptian policemen during the attacks on the Egyptian-Israeli border.” Barak ordered the IDF “to open an investigation,” which will examine Thursday’s incident “jointly with the Egyptian army.”
For continuing updates follow the IDF on twitter and real-time updates on the IDF blog. You can also follow our spokespersons on Twitter: Lt. Col. Avital Leibovich, Lt. Sacha Dratwa in French, Maj. Avichay Adraee in Arabic and Cpt. Barak Raz in English.
The Israel Defense Forces will not tolerate any attempts to harm Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers and will respond with determination to any attempt to use terror against Israel. The IDF holds the Hamas terrorist organization solely responsible for any terrorist activity emanating from Gaza.
One million Israelis are sleeping tonight under fire from Hamas.