Katyusha dud (Archive)
Photo: Ahiya Raved
Katyusha fired from Gaza
Cleared for publication: For first time, Gaza terrorists fired Katyusha rocket at Israel
Cleared for publication: A Katyusha rocket fired from the northern Gaza Strip Tuesday morning landed south of Ashkelon.
No injuries were reported in the attack.
The strike marked the first time that a terror organization in Gaza has used a Katyusha rocket to attack Israel.
The rocket is much more accurate and powerful than the homemade Qassams customarily used by terrorists. Similar rockets have been used by Hizbullah in Lebanon.
"The difference between a Katyusha strike and the impact of a Qassam impact is very large. The difference is like a vehicle produced in a plant compared to a karting car. If such a rocket would have hit a home and exploded, it would cause a major disaster and total destruction," a sapper from the Lachish police station told Ynet.
A month and a half ago, Home Front Commander Gershon Yitzhak said that terror organizations in Gaza possessed a number of Katyusha rockets. This morning, his estimation was proven correct.
The Katyusha is the same as that used by Hizbullah recently when it attacked northern border communities.
At first, the Lachish District Police believed that the rocket was a normal Qassam rocket, but an initial check found that it was in fact a Katyusha, and IDF sources were mobilized to the area.
Lachish Police Commander Effie Mor said handling of the incident has been handed over to the IDF.
Hanan Greenberg contributed to the report
