Rockets land in Beersheba, Ashdod

Barrages explode in open areas shortly before humanitarian pause in Gaza fighting takes effect. Earlier, six rockets hit open areas in Eshkol, Sha'ar Hanegev regional councils, Ashkelon area

Shmulik Hadad
Latest Update: 01.14.09, 13:22 / Israel News

Air raid sirens sounded Wednesday afternoon in the southern communities of Beersheba, Yavne, Ashkelon, Sderot and other western Negev towns. Rockets exploded in open areas in Beersheba, Yavne, Ashdod and the Sdot Negev Regional Council.

There were no reports of injuries but a hothouse sustained damage. Twelve rockets have been fired into southern Israel since the morning hours.

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A siren sounded at around 12:55 pm in many areas in southern Israel. A false alarm was heard in the Jerusalem area at the same time.

Wednesday's rocket fire began at around 10:30 am, when two Qassam rockets exploded in open areas within the Eshkol Regional Council in southern Israel. A third rocket hit the area shortly afterwards. There were no reports of injuries or damage.

An hour later, three additional rockets exploded in open areas within the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council and in the Ashkelon area. There were no injuries and no damage was caused.

The Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip entered its 19th day Wednesday, although the number of rockets fired from the Strip into Israel has dropped significantly in the past few days.

Three rockets hit open areas within Eshkol on Tuesday night. Earlier, five mortar shells landed in open areas near a community in the area. There were no reports of injuries or damage in all incidents.

In total, 18 rockets were fired into Israel on Tuesday. One of them exploded in an educational institution in Ashkelon. The students, who are studying in fortified rooms, were instructed to get under the tables and put their hands over their heads. There were no injuries.

The Israel Defense Forces said Wednesday it would hold its fire in Gaza between 1 and 4 pm in order to allow the Strip's residents to equip themselves with food and medicines.

Israel will also allow the transfer of more than 100 trucks carrying humanitarian aid to the Strip.

Ilana Curiel, Eli Senyor and Hanan Greenberg contributed to this report

First Published: 01.14.09, 11:15