Ashkelon rocket landing spot
Photo: Ran Yadai
Qassam lands in Ashkelon
Rocket lands near residential area in southern city; concerns raised over residential areas
A Qassam rocket dud was found Friday morning in open territory near Ashkelon’s cemetery, not far from residential areas.
It seems the rocket was fired as part of the barrage of Qassams fired Thursday from Gaza.
Until now Ashkelon residents have not suffered from fear of Qassams – rockets fired at the city fell in the worst case in the industrial zone of the city and did not interfere with local life.
However this reality may now change, as the rocket dud shows an improved rocket range on the part of the Palestinians, raising concerns that the next rocket launches could result in damage to property, or even casualties.
Last night, residents of the Givat Zion neighborhood reported that a rocket landed near their home. A police force scanned the area throughout the night, but only found the rocket dud Friday morning.
No new model
According to Ashkelon’s police chief, the Qassam rocket had a 155 millimeter diameter, the type of rocket fired up to now.
Police sappers agreed that there has been no improvement or change in the rocket model. “In terms of aerial dynamics this is not a great space, and it matches other rocket landing spots recently – in Ashkelon’s southern industrial zone,” said one sapper.
With that, police and security forces are concerned over this rocket landing, which is very close to the homes of Ashkelon residents.
Senior sources in the Ashkelon Municipality say that the falling of a rocket in a home or in an inhabited structure in Ashkelon could cause both physical damage and harm the image of the city, as well as causing much panic in the city.
The rocket has been taken to a police lab where it is currently being analyzed.
