Residents in South ordered to stay near shelters as 9 rockets fired into Israel

IDF on alert as southern residents brace for yet another round of escalation as Gaza’s terror groups shell area

By Ilana Curiel, Neri Brenner

 

The defense establishment is gearing for yet another round of escalation vis-à-vis Gaza’s terror groups following Saturday’s border incident, which left four soldiers wounded from terrorist fire.

Rockets fired from Gaza Photo: AFP

Rockets fired from civilian center in Gaza – Photo: AFP

Two soldiers sustained serious injuries and two others were moderately injured when an IDF vehicle sustained a direct hit by an anti-tank missile.

IDF tanks fired at terror targets in Gaza Strip following the attack. Gaza medical sources said that four people were killed and 20 others were injured.

Gaza’s terror groups issues uniform statement threatening retaliation, vowing that “Israel will pay for its crimes” and saying that they will “coordinate response to Zionist’s massacre in Gaza.”

נפילת פצצת מרגמה, הערב ביישובי עוטף עזה (צילום: זאב טרכטמן)

Rocket explodes in Gaza vicinity – Photo: Matan Gorlenik

Around 8:30 pm two rockets exploded in an open area in the Eshkol Regional Council. a third landed in Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council. No injuries or damage were reported.

The Color Red alert sounds across the Gaza vicinity communities beforehand.

The IDF has ordered the residents of the Gaza vicinity communities to remain within close proximity to shelters.

Around 9 pm, an air raid siren sounded in Ashdod, Yavne, Gedera and Ashkelon, as Gaza terrorists fired two rockets at the area.

The Iron Dome battery deployed in the area intercepted one rocket. Another landed north of Ashdod, causing no harm.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen Benny Gantz has called for a security assessment later in the evening.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak commented on the incident, saying: “The IDF reacted with force to the event and an additional response will be determined in the following days. We will not abide any escalation in the situation on the southern fence.”

Alon Shuster, head of Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council told Ynet: “We have been on constant alert for 13 years now… civilians on both sides will continue paying the price, until our neighbored regime changes its attitude, which is not likely to happen soon.

“After 13 years of military operations and the Gaza pullout, we now realize there is no easy solution and that the country must address this situation.”

 

View original Ynet publication at: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4303508,00.html