Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip fired a barrage of rockets into Israel before dawn on Wednesday, with several intercepted by the Iron Dome system, witnesses said.
The missile fire came as the Israeli air force launched a series of strikes across Gaza in response to earlier rocket fire that injured two people.
Rocket sirens wailed repeatedly across southern Israel early Wednesday. The IDF said it was investigating the incidents that triggered sirens at least five times over an hour-long period to see if rockets were fired.
Witnesses reported a series of loud explosions and videos showed Iron Dome interceptors streaking up to destroy incoming rockets.
There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
Israeli aircraft attacked a series of targets in the Gaza Strip before dawn Wednesday, Palestinian security officials hours said after at least two rockets were fired Tuesday from the Gaza Strip at Israel, one of which struck the city of Ashdod, injuring two people.
The reports said the IDF airstrikes hit targets across the Strip and videos posted to social media showed large explosions lighting up the night sky. There was no immediate confirmation from the army.
On Tuesday night the rockets triggered sirens in the cities of Ashkelon and Ashdod, potentially sending hundreds of thousands of residents rushing to bomb shelters just as the country’s leader was signing historic accords with two Gulf states, vociferously opposed by the Palestinians.
According to the Israel Defense Forces, soldiers operating the Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted one of the incoming projectiles.
The second rocket struck a street in Ashdod, lightly damaging it and nearby storefronts and knocking down a tree.
The rocket attacks on Ashkelon and Ashdod came as a signing ceremony was taking place in Washington to mark the establishment of formal ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and between Israel and Bahrain.
“On this historic night of peace, we received a reminder from our enemies that we must always be strong and prepared to defend Israeli citizens on all fronts and at all times — and this we will do,” Defense Minister Benny Gantz said in response to the attack.
No comments:
Post a Comment