Following explosions heard in the area around Gedera, Yavne, and Rishon LeZion, the Israel Police and the IDF Home Front Command are currently searching the area.
The incident is possibly related to the firing of a Grad missile at the city of Ashdod a short while ago. The IDF Home Front Command is currently informing the regional authorities in central and southern Israel.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3OnFIWEDVE&feature=channel_video_title]
Last week, the Israeli Navy intercepted 50 tons of sophisticated weapons concealed in civilian cargo containers aboard the “Victoria”, which left Syria and was en route to Alexandria, Egypt. Of the 50 tons, the most strategically significant weapons found were 6 C-704 missiles.
Currently, there are no known C-704s held by Hamas or any other terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip. With a range of 35 kilometers, this anti-ship missile would have been used to threaten IDF and civilian activity off Israel’s southern coast, as well as natural gas resources vital to the livelihoods of Israeli citizens.
The attempt to disguise weaponry as civilian cargo on the “Victoria” has been linked to the Iranian government, both in terms of documents found on-board the ship, and other known attempts by Iran to arm various terrorist organizations.
The recent barrage of rockets and mortar shells fired from the Gaza Strip towards Israeli communities underscore the importance of the naval blockade towards Gaza, and the grave security implications had the Israeli Navy not intercepted the “Victoria”.
Since Saturday’s mortar attack, over 25 rockets and mortars were fired into Israeli territory, including 4 Grad rockets fired at the cities of Ashkelon, Ashdod and Be’er Sheva.
Archive: Hamas terrorists in a display of weaponry and rockets. Photo: GettyImages
In response to this, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) aircraft targeted a smuggling tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip and a terror activity site in the northern Gaza Strip overnight. Direct hits were confirmed.
The targeting of these sites comes as a response to the barrage of Grad rockets, Qassam rockets and mortar shells fired from Gaza at the Israeli home front in the south over the past few days.
Earlier today, Israeli Air Force (IAF) aircraft targeted a rocket launching device in the northern Gaza Strip from which a Grad missile was fired at Ashdod last night. A hit was confirmed.
The Grad missile landed last night 5 kilometers south of the port city of Ashdod in which over 200,000 Israeli residents live. Shortly thereafter, the IAF had targeted the terrorist in the northern Gaza Strip from which the Grad was fired, identifying a hit.
This morning, an additional Grad missile was launched from the Gaza Strip and landed in the city of Be’er Sheva, in addition to approximately 7 other military-use projectiles which hit the Sdot Negev, Sha’ar Hanegev, and Eshkol Regional Councils.
A number of hours ago, a Grad missile fired from the Gaza Strip in Ashdod, 5 kilometers from the city center. Over 200,000 Israeli residents live in Ashdod, a port city in southern Israel.
Archive: Israeli cities under attack by rocket fire. Photo: Reuters
An Israeli Air Force (IAF) aircraft targeted a terrorist in the northern Gaza Strip, in the same location from which the Grad missile was fired towards Ashdod. A hit was confirmed.
An Israeli Air Force (IAF) aircraft identified a group of terrorists in the northern Gaza Strip who were preparing to fire military-use projectiles at the Israeli home front, and thwarted the attempt by firing at them, confirming a hit.
This group of terrorists is also known to have fired the Grad missile which caused damage to the Israeli city of Be’er Sheva.
Archive: Israeli medics treat casualties from a rocket attack.
Four military use-projectiles fired from the northern Gaza Strip hit the Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council this afternoon. A short while later at roughly 16:00, the IDF responded to the attack by firing mortars directly at the launch site.
Initial reports indicate that terrorists were among the injured. Regrettably, uninvolved civilians were also present at the site and were injured. The Civil Administration offered medical assistance to those injured and the assistance is being coordinated with the Palestinian Authority in both Ramallah and Gaza.
The IDF regrets the involvement of civilians in this incident, however it must be noted that the Hamas terrorist organization chooses to operate from within its civilian population and use them as ”human shields”.
The circumstances of this incident are being investigated.
It is important to note that since this past weekend over 60 rockets and mortars have been fired from Gaza, 50 on Saturday and 7 over the course of today. The rockets launched from Gaza caused property damage as well as some injuries.
The IDF does not seek any sort of escalation in the south, the sole purpose of all IDF activity in the area is to thwart terrorist activities emanating from Gaza and which threaten the lives of civilians living in the area.
A short while ago, an IDF force operating in the northern Gaza Strip identified a group of terrorists preparing to launch an anti-tank missile at an adjacent force, and thwarted the attempt by firing towards it, confirming a hit.
The IDF will respond with determination to any firing or other terrorist activities emanating from the Gaza Strip, and will not tolerate any attempt to harm Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers. The IDF warns Hamas not to continue its aggression.
Overnight, IAF aircraft targeted two terror tunnels, two weapons manufacturing and storage facilities and two additional terror activity sites across the Gaza Strip. Direct hits were confirmed.
The terror tunnels were intended for the infiltration of terrorists into Israeli territory and for the execution of terror attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers.
The targeting of these sites was in response to the barrage of mortar shells, Qassam and Grad rockets fired from Gaza at the Israeli home front over the past week.
Over 130 mortar shells, Qassam rockets and Grad rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip and landed in Israeli territory since the beginning of the year, 56 of which were fired just this week.
The IDF will not allow the Israeli southern communities to continue living under constant threat, and will respond with determination to any attempt to use terror against the citizens of Israel. The IDF holds the Hamas terrorist organization solely responsible for any terrorist activity emanating from the Gaza Strip.
The IDF warns Hamas not to continue its aggression.
A short while ago, in a joint IDF-ISA activity, an Israeli Air Force aircraft targeted a terror tunnel and several Hamas-affiliated militants in the northern Gaza Strip. A direct hit was confirmed.
The terror tunnel was intended for the infiltration of terrorists into Israeli territory and for the execution of terror attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers.
The targeting of the terror tunnel and militants was in response to recent terrorist activity by Hamas, including the barrage of mortar shells, Qassam and Grad rockets fired from Gaza at the Israeli home front over the past week.
Over 130 mortar shells, Qassam rockets and Grad rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip and landed in Israeli territory since the beginning of the year, 56 of which were fired just this week.
The IDF will respond with strength and determination to any attempt to use terror against the citizens of Israel.
