In response to rocket fire on Ashdod, IDF targets terrorist in Gaza
Grad rocket lands in the center of Be'er Sheba on Wednesday morning, lightly injuring one person. Overnight, IAF aircraft targeted a terrorist in the Gaza Strip who was firing a Grad rocket toward Ashdod

Israel Defense Forces
March 23, 2011

http://www.jewishpolicycenter.org/2104/in-response-to-rocket-fire-on-ashdod-idf-targets

Overnight, Israeli Air Force aircraft targeted and killed a terrorist in the spot from which he was carrying out the firing of a Grad rocket from the northern Gaza Strip toward Ashdod.

The IAF strike was a response to two rockets that had been fired from Gaza toward Ashdod. Before last night, rockets had not been fired toward Ashdod since the end of Operation Cast Lead more than two years ago.

On Wednesday morning (Mar. 23), Hamas terrorist activities continued when a Grad rocket fired from Gaza landed in the city of Be'er Sheba. The rocket landed around 5:30 a.m. and caused damage to infrastructure and a residential building. One man was lightly injured by shrapnel and was transported to the Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheba. Three other people were treated by rescue forces for shock.

On Tuesday evening, IAF aircraft targeted a cell of terrorists in the Gaza Strip as they attempted to launch a Grad rocket towards Israel. A hit was identified and the IAF planes returned to their base safely.

The terrorists were attempting to launch the Grad rocket a short time after another Grad rocket fell in open territory in Ashkelon, causing no injuries or damage.

The terrorist cell hit by the IAF was the same cell that launched a Grad rocket that landed in Be'er Sheba in February.

Due to the recent increase in rocket attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip, the IDF is asking that the residents of the Ashdod area, like the residents of the area near the Gaza border, remain in shelters for 10 minutes following the sounding of warning sirens.
 
The IDF will continue to respond firmly to the firing of rockets and any other type of terrorist activity emanating from the Gaza Strip and will not tolerate any attempts to harm Israeli citizens or IDF soldiers. The IDF suggests that Hamas not attempt to escalate the situation or test the IDF's strength.

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