Qassam rocket (Archive photo)
Photo: Reuters
Ashkelon: Qassam lands near strategic site
Rocket fired at southern Ashkelon lands in close proximity to security-sensitive structure. Security officials say that had rocket landed any closer, great disaster would have occurred
While the northern border was heating up,
a Qassam rocket was fired Wednesday noon from the northern Gaza Strip at Ashkelon. The rocket landed very close to a strategic site in the southern area of town, and defense officials say that had the rocket landed several meters closer, a great disaster would have taken place.
The Red Dawn alert system failed to identify the Qassam's launching and security officers in the region did not receive notice of the attack through their pagers.
Sappers and police forces were dispatched to the scene.
'Loud blast across industrial zone'
One of the employees in the place said: "We heard a very loud blast that was heard all across the industrial zone. It later turned out that this was a Qassam, but we didn't get a chance to enter the armored vehicles as the rocket had already been fired."
"We have been asked to stay on high alert for the remainder of the day," he added.
Earlier the Palestinians fired two Qassam rockets at the western Negev. Both rockets landed in open areas near the Nativ Haasara community's hothouses. No injuries were reported in the attack. Another rocket was reportedly launched at Ashkelon.
Last week two Qassam rockets were fired at Ashkelon, one of them was apparently launched from the former Dugit settlement in the northern strip.
