Lipush
Gold Member
In what seems to be a calculated escalation in Southern Israel, the Gaza vicinity is again unquiet.
Starting just before 7 AM this morning, Palestinian Islamic Jihad started firing rockets and mortars, dozens of them, unto Israel; Iron Dome took care of multiple rockets, yet a mortar shell did hit just nearby a kindergarten. Over 20 launched were directed at Israeli communities.
9 AM, the launches return with sirens. Over 24 'Code Red' sirens are heard in Gaza vicinity in less than 2 hours. 8:02 and 9:36 sign the second wave of launchings in Eshkol and Sha'ar Hanegev.
The second wave of launchings occurs around noon, and then every hour. Islamic Jihad claims that 'Blood shall be answered in Blood' (as they claim attacks on said civilian targets are a legitimate response to the targeting and killing of 3 of their men yesterday while they tried to cross the border and kill Israeli soldiers). Around 4:00, and then 4:36 PM sirens are heard again all across Gaza vicinity, one of the mortars hit a school playground. IDF starts retaliating, targeting Dozens of Hamas sites in Gaza, no casualties reported.
Israeli Cabinet says the rocket firing won't go without a response, and Islamic Jihad threatens again. One of the afternoon launches had Hamas stamp on it.
Third round of launches start at 7:28 PM, following by 7:51. The mortar shells are exchanged with Grads, and the ranges increase to Ofakim and Netivot.
Sirens are against heard late evening with multiple rocket launchings. Israel again attacks, while the last Sirens were heard on 1:08, 1:13, 1:17, 1:24.
Sources: Ynet, Rotter