False alarm in Ashkelon

Color Red alert sounds in Ashkelon leading to fears of rocket attack; swiftly followed by relief as IDF Spokesman announces it was false alarm

Neri Brenner|Published: 06.06.12 , 21:16

A Color Red alert sounded in Ashkelon on Wednesday evening. At first it was reported that a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip landed within the city limits, but this was followed by a report from the IDF Spokesman stating that in fact, it was a false alarm.

In recent days the Israel Air Force carried out several strikes in retaliation for recent rocket attacks against Israel. Air Force jets attacked targets in the Gaza Strip twice on Tuesday night after a rocket exploded in an open area in the Eshkol Regional Council.

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Palestinian sources noted that Hamas was evacuating all of its military and security facilities fearing additional strikes.

It was initially reported that an attack on a base in northern Gaza city killed one person and injured two, but Gaza's emergency services spokesman denied any fatalities and reported that two Palestinians sustained moderate and serious injuries.

On Monday, a Qassam rocket hit a field near Sderot. No injuries were reported but a small fire had broken out. On Sunday night, the IAF bombed a terror tunnel and arms factory in the northern Strip.

Last Friday Golani Staff-Sergeant Netanel Moshiashvili, 21, from Ashkelon, was killed in clashes between a Golani force and a terrorist who infiltrated the security fence near Kissufim.

The troops killed the terrorist, who was found in possession of an AK-47, munitions, hand grenades and explosives, which the military said were meant to stage a terror attack on one of the border-adjacent communities.