Qassam rocket (archives)
Photo: Ze'ev Trachtman
Rocket hits western Negev; IAF strikes Gaza tunnels
Air Force fighter jets strike two smuggling tunnels in southern Strip following Qassam launch at Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council
Palestinian gunmen fired a Qassam rocket from the northern Gaza Strip towards Israel
on Wednesday evening. The Color Red alert system failed to sound, but a loud explosion was heard near a kibbutz in the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council.
Security forces canvassed the area in search for the landing sight. No injuries or damage were reported.
Several hours following, Israeli Air Force jets struck two smuggling tunnels in southern Gaza Strip. The pilots reported hitting their marks.
The IDF Spokesman's Unit said the fire came in response to the rocket fire on Israel.
On Tuesday night, Israel Air Force attacked three weapon smuggling tunnels in the southern Gaza Strip, in response to the firing of two Qassam rockets at Israel on Tuesday. There were no reports of injuries on the Palestinian side.
The situation in the southern front has deteriorated over recent months, after a period of relative calm. On Monday Israeli jets struck a rocket ready for launching in the northern Gaza Strip, after Palestinians launched three rockets at the western Negev on Yom Kippur. No one was injured and no damage was caused.
On Sunday, Palestinian gunmen fired a mortar shell at Israel. The shell exploded in an open area within the Eshkol Regional Council; there were no reports of damage or injury.
IDF forces responded by firing two mortar shells at the source of the attack. The previous day, a Qassam rocket fell within the borders of Eshkol Regional Council, after the IAF struck and killed three Islamic Jihad operatives planning to launch rockets at Israel.
