At least 150 rockets and mortar shells were fired into central Israel Tuesday from the Gaza Strip after the IDF launched a series of operations that led to the death of Islamic Jihad commander Baha Abu al-Ata.
“The Israel Defense Forces on Tuesday ordered schools closed in southern and central Israel, including the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, as terror groups in the Gaza Strip began firing dozens of rockets at cities and towns throughout the country in retaliation for the assassination of Palestinian Islamic Jihad senior commander Baha Abu al-Ata,” reports the Times of Israel.
Here is my just updated map of the areas sirens sounded in #Israel warning of rocket fire from #Gaza #BREAKING #happeningnow, after Israel hit a PIJ commander early this morning, rockets since 5:50am have been fired non-stop. Getting closer to Tel Aviv. #breakingnews pic.twitter.com/qMWhFmN39k
— Seth Frantzman (@sfrantzman) November 12, 2019
“We are prepared for several days of battle with an aerial defense shield, including in the center of the country,” IDF spokesperson Hidai Zilberman told reporters
“Rocket attacks began shortly after the killing of Abu al-Ata early Tuesday morning, most of them focused on Israeli towns and cities surrounding the northern Gaza Strip. Shortly after 7 a.m., rocket sirens sounded in the Tel Aviv suburbs of Rishon Lezion and Holon. An hour later, sirens blared in the southern neighborhoods of Tel Aviv and in the nearby suburbs of Bat Yam and Holon,” adds the Times.
This is truly unbelievable: watch a rocket hit a main road in Israel, missing a few cars by seconds! #IsraelUnderFire
— Avital Leibovich (@AvitalLeibovich) November 12, 2019
Read the full report here.
Source: Times of Israel
'IT WAS IRAN': Israel Says TEHRAN Behind Gaza Mortar Barrage
Israeli officials publicly blamed Iran for the recent mortar attack on southern Israel Wednesday, saying Tehran was the “culprit” behind the barrage that included 180 Iranian-manufactured shells.
According to the Jerusalem Post, IDF Spokesperson Ronen Manelis confirmed the mortar shells were produced inside the Islamic Republic and smuggled into the region by Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
“Despite Israel’s intelligence superiority over terror groups, as well a blockade imposed both by the IDF and Egypt, Hamas and other terror groups in the Strip have restocked their supply of weapons in the four years since the last round of fighting between Israel and Hamas,” writes the Post.
“The mass-produced Iranian mortar shells used in Tuesday’s salvos were also used by Islamic Jihad in an attack in January and in a barrage 12 mortar shells fired toward an army outpost in November,” adds the author.
The revelation raises new questions over Iran’s influence in the region as the United States urges western allies and other nations to help clampdown on Tehran’s nuclear program.
BREAKING NOW: Rockets Fired Towards Tel Aviv, Missiles Intercepted by Israeli Defenses
At least two rockets were fired towards Tel Aviv, Israel from Gaza Thursday evening; prompting authorities to sound the nationwide warning sirens for the first time since 2014.
“The two Fajr-5 rockets were fired by Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in Gaza, the second strongest group in the coastal enclave after Hamas. One was reported to have been intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system while another one is said to have fallen in open territory. There were reports of a number of Israelis who were treated for shock,” reports The Jerusalem Post.
https://twitter.com/IsraelMFA/status/1106282949115367425
BREAKING NEWS: (SOUND ON) Explosions heard all over center of Israel as 2 rockets were fired from Gaza at Gush Dan (Tel Aviv area). 1 rocket intercepted by Iron dome. No injuries reported. This is an act of war. Hamas is leading the area to war!! https://t.co/cMTZZlTh42 pic.twitter.com/PrmVVkDcxi
— Holly Huffnagle (@HHuffnagleAJC) March 14, 2019
Local media reports Hamas is rapidly evacuating military posts across the Gaza Strip in anticipation of incoming Israeli airstrikes.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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