Rapid Escalation Around Gaza: 'Relentless' Rocket Barrages - Russia Blames Israel - Liveblogging Events

Iron Dome intercepts relentless rocket barrages fired from Gaza at south, Modiin

The Times of Israel is liveblogging Saturday’s events as they unfold.

IDF says 361 rockets fired by Islamic Jihad at Israel, 70 fall short in Gaza

The latest Israel Defense Forces data put the number of rockets launched toward Israel by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group at 361.

Of them, 70 fell short in the Gaza Strip, according to the latest data, which is as of 4 p.m.

The military says the Iron Dome missile defense system has demonstrated a 95 percent success rate at intercepting projectiles fired toward populated areas.

Earlier today, a factory in a town close to the border and a home in Sderot were hit by rocket attacks. Three people, including two soldiers, were also lightly hurt in a separate mortar bombardment near a town in the Eshkol Regional Council.

IDF says it struck 3 Islamic Jihad mortar launchers used to attack border towns

The Israel Defense Forces says it struck three Palestinian Islamic Jihad mortar launchers in the Gaza Strip, used to attack towns along the border.

The strikes were made by an armed drone.

Iron Dome intercepts rocket over Ashkelon; sirens sound in Netivot, border towns

Rocket sirens sound in the coastal city of Ashkelon. Initial reports say at least one incoming projectile is intercepted by the Iron Dome air defense system.

Meanwhile, sirens also sound in the city of Netivot, some 10 kilometers from the Gaza Strip, and other closer border towns.

There are no immediate reports of casualties or damage in the latest wave of rocket attacks.

Over 200 rockets are estimated to have been fired at Israel since Friday afternoon.

Gantz warns Islamic Jihad leadership in Iran, Syria, Lebanon

Defense Minister Benny Gantz issues a threat to the leaders of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group, who are not in the Gaza Strip.

“The leadership of Islamic Jihad, who sit abroad in restaurants and stay in hotels in Tehran, Syria, and Lebanon, are disconnected from their people,” Gantz says during a tour of an Iron Dome air defense battery in southern Israel.

He says the leaders are “seriously harming” the livelihoods of Gaza residents amid the current escalation of violence, and “they will also pay the bill.”

Gantz also says Israel has foiled “many terrorists who are planning to launch rockets” at Israel.

Iron Dome intercepts rockets over Sderot, nearby towns

Rocket sirens sound in the Gaza border city of Sderot and other nearby towns.

Initial reports say four incoming projectiles are intercepted by the Iron Dome air defense system.

There are no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

Over 200 rockets are estimated to have been fired at Israel since Friday afternoon.

Russia calls for “maximum restraint” in the Gaza Strip amid escalating violence between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group

“We are observing with profound worry how events are evolving,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova says in a statement, adding that Moscow is calling “on all the parties involved to show maximum restraint.”

“The new escalation was caused by Israeli army firing into the Gaza Strip on August 5, to which Palestinian groups responded by carrying out massive and indiscriminate bombardments on Israeli territory,” she says.

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