Over one million Israeli civilians under attack; IAF targets rocket launching site, terrorists fire from within residential area. Updates forthcoming.
17:00 Terrorists launch rockets from within residential area in the northern Gaza Strip, two suspects located at an exact location used to launch rockets were targeted by IAF aircraft. Suspects were later discovered to be uninvolved civilians.
This incident is a blatant example of how terror organizations use human shields to carry out terror attacks from the heart of urban areas and as occurred in this incident lead to the apparent injury of uninvolved civilians.
15:30 Over 200 rockets have been fired by Gaza Strip terrorists at Israel in the past 72 hours, targeting Israeli communities including the cities of Be’er Sheva, Ashdod, Ashkelon, and more adding up to 1,000,000 people. Over 100 of these rockets hit Israeli territory injuring 22 civilians and causing damage to property in the cities of Ashdod and Be’er Sheva.
The Iron Dome anti-missile defense system has successfully intercepted 52 Grad rockets directed at densely populated regions. The system’s 90% success rate has been praised by Defense Minister, Ehud Barak as well as by IAF commander.
The IDF is prepared to respond with strength and determination against any attempt to execute terrorist attacks against the citizens of the State of Israel.
06:45 Overnight, IAF aircraft targeted a weapons storage facility and four rocket launching sites in the northern Gaza Strip, as well as a rocket launching site in the southern Gaza Strip.
In addition, an IAF aircraft thwarted a rocket launch attempt in the southern Gaza Strip, by targeting a terrorist moments before firing a rocket at Israel.
The targeting is in direct response to the continuous rocket fire on communities in southern Israel.
Since last Friday (March 9) 22 Israeli civilians were injured as a result of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip: one severely, two intermediately, seven lightly injured and 12 suffering from panic, several in the Eshkol Regional Council.
Due to the continuous rocket fire and concern for the safety of Israeli civilians, schools in southern Israel will be closed today for the second day in a row.
Sunday, March 11
20:35 Just today 16 rockets launched from the Gaza Strip hit Israeli territory and the Iron Dome anti-missile defense system intercepted 13 rockets launched at densely populated regions.
18:25 The Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz is currently gathering the operational forum of the General Staff for an operational assessment, in order to summarize and give further operational instructions in response to the continued rocket fire against the Israeli home front. He instructed to continue operating with determination against every attempt to attack the State of Israel.
Chief of Staff followed the Home Front Command’s recommendation to close schools in southern Israel tomorrow as well. It was suggested that schools located up to seven kilometers from the border that are fully equipped with protected buildings, will operate regularly.
17:00 Since the beginning of the escalation, over 135 rockets have been fired by Gaza Strip terrorists at Israel. 93 of these rockets hit Israeli territory, injuring 22 civilians and causing damage to a house in the cities of Ashdod and Be’er Sheva.
The Iron Dome anti-missile defense system has successfully intercepted 37 Grad rockets, of the 46 attempts to intercept rockets directed at densely populated regions.
Terror organizations that carry out terror attacks against the State of Israel will bear the consequences of these actions in any future operation embarked upon by the IDF. The Hamas terror organization is solely responsible for any terrorist activity emanating from the Gaza Strip.
13:00 One hour ago two mortar shells fired from the Gaza Strip hit the Kerem Shalom land crossing. The rockets caused damage to a truck transferring goods from Israel to the Gaza Strip as well as in the vehicle of the Palestinian crossing manager. Despite the attack, and throughout the escalation, operation continues – just yesterday 180 trucks entered the Gaza Strip. So far over 180 rockets were fired form the Gaza Strip at Israel.
12:15 Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz held a situation assessment earlier this morning in the Southern Commander along with Southern Command GOC Maj. Gen. Tal Russo and additional high-ranking officer. Lt. Gen. Gantz instructed commanders to continue operating with determination against terror organizations and against every attempt to fire rockets at Israel.
After the situation assessment, the Chief of Staff toured the city of Be’er Sheva and met with civilians living in the area. Lt. Gen. Gantz told them “the IDF is doing everything to target those responsible for the rocket fire endangering Israeli civilians and will operate to return peace to communities in southern Israel.”
09:30 Earlier this morning, IAF aircraft targeted a squad that was preparing to fire a rocket at Israel from the southern Gaza Strip. A hit was confirmed.
Since the beginning of the escalation, over 147 rockets have been fired by Gaza Strip terrorists at Israel.
06:45 Overnight, IAF aircraft targeted a weapons storage facility and four rocket launching sites in the northern Gaza Strip, as well as a rocket launching site in the southern Gaza Strip.
In addition, an IAF aircraft thwarted a rocket launch attempt in the southern Gaza Strip, by targeting a terrorist moments before firing a rocket at Israel.
The targeting is in direct response to the continuous rocket fire on communities in southern Israel.
Since last Friday (March 9) 22 Israeli civilians were injured as a result of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip: one severely, two intermediately, seven lightly injured and 12 suffering from panic, several in the Eshkol Regional Council.
Due to the continuous rocket fire and concern for the safety of Israeli civilians, schools in southern Israel will be closed today for the second day in a row.
Sunday, March 11
20:35 Just today 16 rockets launched from the Gaza Strip hit Israeli territory and the Iron Dome anti-missile defense system intercepted 13 rockets launched at densely populated regions.
18:25 The Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz is currently gathering the operational forum of the General Staff for an operational assessment, in order to summarize and give further operational instructions in response to the continued rocket fire against the Israeli home front. He instructed to continue operating with determination against every attempt to attack the State of Israel.
Chief of Staff followed the Home Front Command’s recommendation to close schools in southern Israel tomorrow as well. It was suggested that schools located up to seven kilometers from the border that are fully equipped with protected buildings, will operate regularly.
17:00 Since the beginning of the escalation, over 135 rockets have been fired by Gaza Strip terrorists at Israel. 93 of these rockets hit Israeli territory, injuring 22 civilians and causing damage to a house in the cities of Ashdod and Be’er Sheva.
The Iron Dome anti-missile defense system has successfully intercepted 37 Grad rockets, of the 46 attempts to intercept rockets directed at densely populated regions.
14:30 Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Gantz spoke at a ceremony for the appointment of new GOC Central Commander Maj. Gen. Nitzan Alon, and said that “the IDF The IDF has been responding and will continue to do so with strength and determination against any firing of rockets at Israel. We are prepared to defend the citizens of Israel and to establish severe consequences to any attempt of harming their daily routein lives. Hamas and other terror organizations continue to strengthen themselves, as we follow their moves. We are not interested in escalations, and we hold Hamas responsible for what is occuring in the Gaza Strip.”So far over 135 rockets fire from the Gaza Strip at Israeli communities.
13:30 A short while ago, IAF aircraft targeted a terrorist, moments before firing a Grad rocket at the city of Ashdod. The aforementioned terrorist fired a Grad rocket at Ashdod earlier this morning. A direct hit was confirmed.
13:00 Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz addressed the escalation in the south and said that “Over the weekend more than 120 rockets were fired at Israeli territory. 90% of the rockets that were directed at highly populated regions were intercepted by the Iron Dome anti-missile defense system. The IDF is demonstrating its exact, high-quality operational capabilities that allowed the targeting of 15 Palestinians involved in terror activity. The IDF will continue responding with strength, determination and precision against every rocket launched at Israeli territory.”
11:50 Earlier this morning, IAF aircraft targeted a terrorist at a rocket launching site from which two rockets were fired -at the city of Ashdod a short time beforehand, in the northern Gaza Strip. A hit was confirmed.
The IDF is prepared to defend the residents of Israel and will respond with strength and determination against any attempt to execute terrorist attacks. Hamas uses other terror organizations to carry out terror attacks against the State of Israel and will bear the consequences of these actions in any future operation embarked upon by the IDF in order to eliminate the terror threat and restore the relative calm to the area.
08:30 Overnight, IAF aircraft targeted a terrorist squad that was in the final stages of preparing to fire rockets at Israel from the northern Gaza Strip.
In addition, a short while ago, IAF aircraft targeted two rocket launching sites, in the northern Gaza Strip, used by terror organizations to fire long range rockets into Israel (over 40 kilometers). Direct hits were identified.
So far 135 rockets have been fired by Gaza Strip terrorists at Israel, 82 hit Israeli territory.
