JERUSALEM (VINnews) — A day after the IDF eliminated three senior leaders of the Islamic Jihad, and hours after two terrorists aiming to fire rockets were also killed in the Gaza Strip, terrorists responded by launching over 200 rockets towards central and southern Israel in the space of a few hours Wednesday afternoon. The IDF estimates that another 60-70 rockets landed in Gaza and did not cross the border.
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Rocket launch warning sirens were sounded Wednesday afternoon from the Gaza frontier to as far north as Rishon Letzion, Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan. Tel Aviv parents were told to take their children home from educational facilities.
Sirens were first reported in Sderot and nearby towns, with sirens reported minutes later in Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Lachish. Half an hour later, sirens were also reported in the Tel Aviv area. Iron Dome intercepted almost all of the rockets aimed at civilian areas.
A house in the southern town of Sderot was struck by a rocket. The home was empty at the time and no injuries were reported, although the building was damaged.
In response, Israeli forces bombed Islamic Jihad rocket launchers and mortar positions in the Gaza Strip, an IDF spokesperson said.
“The IDF targeted rocket and mortar shell launch sites belonging to the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization along the Gaza Strip.”
“A short while ago, following the identification of activities of terrorist squads adjacent to rocket launching pits, IDF fighter jets targeted rocket and mortar shell launch sites belonging to the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization along the Gaza Strip. Civilians are asked to act according to the special instructions posted on the National Emergency Portal.”
A senior defense official said that Hamas is currently not involved in the rocket launching.