Israel Under Fire: Missile Barrage Hits South
March 11, 2012 16:38 by Simon Plosker
Once again, 1 million Israelis have spent the last 48 hours running to the nearest bomb shelters or their reinforced rooms. Most of the headlines and articles have focused on Israeli air strikes on terrorist targets in Gaza that have resulted in the deaths of over a dozen Palestinians. But what about the impact of some 130 rockets (so far) aimed at Israeli towns and cities?
The Times of London describes rockets being fired at “Israeli border towns” while the Financial Times headlines its story “Escalation in Gaza border violence”. Ashkelon (population 113,000), Ashdod (population 206,000) and Beersheba (population 194,000) are anything but “border towns”.
Likewise, the weaponry deployed by Gazan terrorists is a far cry from “homemade” rockets.
Source: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit
Some of the latest information courtesy of the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit:
- More than 130 rockets have been fired from the Gaza Strip at major population centers in southern Israel in the last two days.
- On Friday, March 9, four people were wounded, one severely. On March 10, a mare was killed and a home near Ashdod was damaged by a direct rocket hit.
- In light of the ongoing rocket attacks, schools in many cities and towns in southern Israel are closed on Sunday, March 11.
- Areas targeted include Ashdod, Be’ersheba, Yavne, Netivot and Ashkelon, as well as the Eshkol and Shaar Hanegev regional councils.
- The Iron Dome system intercepted about 90% of the rockets fired at Be’ersheba, Ashdod and Ashkelon.
- The terrorist squads are launching their rockets from densely populated areas in the Gaza Strip, including Bet Lahiya, Jabaliya, Rafah, Gaza, and El-Bureij.
- Despite the rocket barrage, the Erez Crossing into Gaza is open for passengers and employees of international organizations. Kerem Shalom is open for the delivery of 200 truckloads from Israel into Gaza.
Source material can be found at this site.
