No injuries or damage caused by Qassam
Photo: Rafi Babian
Qassams land near Sderot; IDF strikes launchers
IDF attacks Qassam cell members Saturday shortly after they fire rockets towards Sderot. No injuries or damage reported. Palestinians claim passerby injured
The IDF attacked Saturday a Qassam cell shortly after they fired rockets at the western Negev. Palestinian sources reported that a civilian was injured by an air strike at members of an Islamic Jihad cell in northern Gaza Strip.
While Palestinians claim the gunmen escaped unharmed, the IDF reported the attack was successful and that the cell members that fired the Qassam and the rocket launcher they operated were hit.
Shortly before the strike, the gunmen fired two Qassam rockets towards Sderot. The Qassams landed south of town and no injuries or damage were reported. The Islamic Jihad's al-Quds Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.
"We heard three loud explosions," said one of the residents of Sderot. "I didn't hear the Color Red alert system, but I immediately understood it was a Qassam. My whole house shook."
Lately, the IDF has been trying to strike Qassam launchers as closely as possible to the launch. Last week five Palestinians were killed in two IAF strikes. Palestinian sources said victims were civilians working as night guards at a factory in the area.
A few hours later, the IDF attacked a Qassam cell in the northern Strip. The IDF claimed cell members were hit as they were getting ready to shoot rockets at the Western Negev. Palestinian sources said two civilians were killed.
Ali Waked, Hanan Greenberg and Shmulik Hadad contributed to the report.
