Rocket salvo hits southern Israel

Tension in south persists following Gaza terrorists' assertion of lull's end. Western Negev communities under fire; several people suffer mild to serious injuries. Islamic Jihad, Popular Resistance Committees claim responsibility

Ilana Curiel
Latest Update: 08.20.11, 13:18 / Israel News

Gaza militants fired over a dozen rockets at Israel Saturday morning. The fire followed a declaration by the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades – Hamas' military wing – saying that its armistice with Israel was over.

Two rockets landed in the Lachish Regional Council around 12:30 pm. The Color Red alert sounded shortly before the explosion, both across the council's communities, as well as in Kiryat Gat and Gan Yanve, near Ashdod.

Four rockets hit Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council shortly before noon: A mortar shell exploded in one of the council's kibbutzim, causing one person to suffer shock as well as some property damage. Three other rockets exploded in open areas, causing no harm.

Earlier, the Color Red alert sounded in the greater Beersheba area. A subsequent explosion was reported in the city around 9 am.

The projectile landed in an open area just outside the city, injuring one person lightly and causing another to suffer shock. Magen David Adom paramedics attended to both. Seven other people suffered light injuries while running to a nearby shelter. They arrived at the Soroka University Medical Center in Beersheba independently.

Around 8:30 am, a rocket fired from northern Gaza exploded in an open area in the Be'er Tuvia Regional Council, causing no harm.

Also Saturday, security forces confirmed that two rockets landed on the outskirts of Ashdod around 6 am. Three people – identified as illegal Palestinian aliens working in the local industrial area – suffered mild to serious injuries and were rushed to the Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot.

The Color Red alert sounded in the greater Ashdod area shortly beforehand. Initial reports suggested about five rockets hit southern communities.

Around 4 am, two rockets were launched at the western Negev, landing in an open area near the Eshkol Regional Council. No injuries or damage were reported.

The Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) claimed the rocket fire on Beersheba, while Islamic Jihad has claimed responsibility for Saturday's earlier rocker fire.

Meanwhile, Israel Air Force helicopters targeted two terror tunnels and a weapons mill in south Gaza Strip and a terror hub in its north in a nightly operation, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said Saturday.

The IDF said the tunnels were meant to smuggle terrorists into Israel, adding that the pilots reported the targets were destroyed.

Palestinian sources reported of another IAF strike in northern Gaza strip at noon Saturday, in the area between Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya.

The Palestinian Ma'an news agency quoted medical officials as saying one person was injured in the strike.

The southern district was placed on high police and IDF alert Thursday, following the day's deadly terror attacks and ensuing rocket fire.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340 ... 54,00.html