By Aryeh Savir
At about 1:30 this morning (Jan. 16), terrorists fired several rockets from Gaza at Ashkelon, a city of over 117,000 civilians. At least five rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome defense system.
In retaliation, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) attacked terrorist locations, including a hidden rocket launcher, munitions storage, a munitions production plant and other terror related points in the northern Gaza Strip. Accurate hits were registered.
An IAF spokesman announced that the attack was carried out in response to the rockets launched earlier at civilian targets. “The IDF views any attack on Israel’s territory with grave severity, and will continue to act with force against any terrorist activity against the State of Israel. The Hamas terrorist organization is accountable for these attacks,” the spokesman said.
The last rocket attack from Gaza occurred this past Monday when two rockets were fired at Israel Shorty after the funeral of Former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. They fell some 6 kilometers from funeral site. No injuries or damage were reported.
Minister of Defense Moshe Yaalon warned the Hamas last month, stating Israel viewed the Hamas as responsible for all that ensues in the Gaza Strip. “We expect the Hamas to exercise its authority over the other terrorist organizations. If they won’t do it we will retaliate in a forceful manner. If there is no peace on our side there were be no peace in Gaza.”
Tazpit News Agency
