by Daniel Siryoti, Lilach Shoval and Israel Hayom Staff
Dozens of rockets, mortar shells fired into southern Israel over weekend • IDF soldier lightly wounded by mortar shrapnel • IAF hits 10 terror targets in Gaza early Sunday morning • IDF chief: We will do whatever it takes to restore peace to the south.
An Iron Dome anti-rocket battery in action in the Ashkelon region
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Southern Israel remained under fire over the weekend. On Saturday evening, Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip fired two Grad rockets at Beersheba and another rocket at Ashkelon.
The Iron Dome system intercepted the three rockets.
This marked the first time Beersheba has been targeted by rocket fire since Operation Pillar of Defense in November 2012.
A Grad rocket was also fired at Ofakim on Saturday.
Dozens of rockets and mortar shells were fired into Israeli communities near the Gaza border over the weekend. An Israeli soldier was lightly wounded by mortar shrapnel in the Eshkol region on Saturday.
Overall, the Iron Dome intercepted eight rockets over the weekend.
After more than a year and a half of quiet, Beersheba residents were caught by surprise when rocket warning sirens sounded in their city on Saturday. "Beersheba had known a long period of calm," city resident Avihai Maor said.
Beersheba Mayor Ruvik Danilovich said, "It's absurd that the IDF will only respond if rockets hit Ashdod, or northward in Tel Aviv. Citizens must be protected at any price, no matter where the rockets are fired at."
Eshkol Regional Council head Haim Yalin said, "The time has come to take action." Merhavim Regional Council head Shai Hajaj said, "We trust that the defense establishment will do what is necessary to stop the rocket fire."
Early Sunday morning, Israeli Air Force planes struck ten "terror targets" in central and southern Gaza, including concealed rocket launchers and a weapons manufacturing site.
On Saturday evening, the IAF targeted a terrorist operative in Gaza who had earlier fired rockets at Ofakim and was preparing for further rocket attacks.
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit said the Israeli military was "prepared to defend the citizens of Israel" and would continue to act "with determination" until quiet was restored. The Hamas terrorist organization was responsible for the violence in the south, the IDF said.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz held a situational assessment in the Gaza border region on Saturday. Israel is boosting its forces in the border region, sending more armored and infantry forces to the area. A minimal amount of reservist soldiers have also been called up.
"Hamas is responsible for all rocket attacks from Gaza toward Israel," Gantz said. "The IDF is prepared to do whatever it takes to restore peace to southern Israel. If necessary, we will respond with force."
Daniel Siryoti, Lilach Shoval and Israel Hayom Staff
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=18611
Copyright - Original materials copyright (c) by the authors.
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