.
Rocket Barrages Bit South [Beersheba, Ashkelon, Kiryat Gat], by Yael Branovsky (Ynet)
Excerpts;
Two rockets exploded Saturday in open spaces in the Beersheba area – no injuries or damages were reported in the attack. The rockets were fired during the daily “humanitarian pause” declared by the IDF.
One Grad rocket landed in an open area in the Ashkelon area a short while after a siren was heard in the city. No injuries or damages were reported.
Meanwhile, a rocket also landed in the Kiryat Gat region. There too, no injuries or damages were reported. Other rockets landed in open areas across the south. Three mortar shells were also fired at the Negev.
By Saturday afternoon, 15 rockets and seven mortar shells were fired at Israel. On Friday, a total of 22 rockets landed in Israel. One man sustained moderate wounds and another was lightly hurt after a rocket hit a home in Ashdod. Meanwhile, three people sustained light wounds in Kiryat Gat.
Gov’t Discussing Unilateral Truce as Hamas Threatens Attacks, by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu (Israel National News)
For context. click on this previous post as well as this post on IRIS.
5 IDF Soldiers Wounded, 1 Seriously, by Anti-Tank Missiles in Gaza
Excerpt;
An IDF soldier was seriously wounded, another moderately wounded and three lightly wounded in the Gaza Strip Saturday afternoon, by anti-tank missiles fired by Hamas combatants.
The air force attacked 50 Hamas targets throughout the Strip, sources said Saturday morning. Among the targets, mostly in northern Gaza, IAF planes bombed rocket launching pads, weapons smuggling tunnels and weapons caches.
Southern Synagogue Sustains Direct Hit
Excerpts;
Palestinians fired 10 rockets from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel on Saturday, with one hitting a synagogue in a community in Tifrah near Ofakim in the morning.
The building was temporarily empty of worshippers due to a break in morning prayers and no one was wounded in the strike although two people were treated for shock. Heavy damage to the structure was reported.
In the latest afternoon barrage, five Grad-rockets were fired into areas near Beersheba. Earlier, four rockets landed in open areas near Ofakim, Netivot, and the Eshkol Regional Council, causing no casualties or damage.
On Friday, Palestinians fired 23 projectiles into the western Negev, wounding at least five people.
Summary of IDF Operations Today (IDF Spokesperson)
IDF forces operating in the northern Gaza Strip today identified two armed gunmen hiding in a residential building and targeted them with tank fire. In a subsequent sweep of the building troops uncovered a stockpile of ammunition, including an explosive belt, grenades and other weapons. The troops carried out a controlled detonation of the explosives.
In a second incident in northern Gaza troops identified a gunman armed with an anti-tank missile, and relayed his position to the IAF, which carried out a precision strike.
Since the morning the IAF targeted over 120 Hamas targets in Gaza,
including:-More than 100 tunnels in southern Gaza
-10 rocket launching points, including several launchers already primed and loaded
-5 cells of gunmen
-3 Hamas outposts
-Additional strikes assisting ground forces
A total of 20 rockets and mortar shells were fired into Israel today, no injuries were reported. Thirteen soldiers were wounded in the past 24 hours, 3 seriously, 3 moderately and 7 lightly.
Palestinians in Gaza Fire 3 Kassams at West Negev; No Casualties
Full Text;
“Palestinians in the Gaza Strip fired three Kassam rockets at Israel late Saturday afternoon. Two of the rockets landed in the Sdot Negev region, and one in the Eshkol region. No casualties or damage were reported in the attacks. “
Four Paratroopers Seriously Wounded in Gaza Clashes
Excerpts;
Four troops from the IDF’s Paratroopers Division were seriously wounded during clashes with Hamas gunmen close to Gaza city on Saturday.
The four – two officers and two soldiers – were hurt from mortar shell fire. The IDF is investigating the incident and has not ruled out friendly fire.
Overnight Friday, an IDF soldier was evacuated to an Israeli hospital in moderate condition after being wounded during Gaza fighting.
Earlier, Palestinian sources claimed that two people were killed and 14 wounded by Israeli forces.
IDF Kills at Least 20 Hamas Gunmen [Throughout Friday]
Summaries of IDF Operations – Friday [At Least 40 Targets Hit] (IDF Spokesperson)
Summary of IDF Operations as of 22:00 Friday IDF forces operating in the northern Gaza Strip today uncovered a house rigged with explosives. The building was detonated in a controlled manner with the assistance of combat engineering forces.
A Paratroopers force identified a squad of gunmen armed with anti-tank weapons and guided the Air Force in striking it. In another incident, ground forces fired at a cell armed with mortar shells. Since the afternoon the IAF targeted over 25 Hamas targets in Gaza, including:
-Two launchers used to fire rockets at Ashdod and Kiryat Gat
-Three bunkers containing weapons and rockets
-Seven groups of gunmen
-A tent with Hamas operatives and weapons inside
-Additional strikes assisting ground forces
Over 20 rockets and mortars fired from the Gaza Strip hit Israel. Among the cities hit were Ashdod and Kiryat Gat. Five civilians were reported wounded.
Summary of IDF Operations as of 16:30, Friday, 16.1.09 115,000 liters of fuel and 109 humanitarian aid trucks passed into the Gaza Strip today.
IDF ground forces operating in the Gaza strip reported hitting at least 20 armed gunmen throughout the day.
In one incident today, a joint combat engineering and tank force uncovered a tunnel containing weaponry and explosive devices. The tunnel was detonated in a controlled manner. A second reported incident included an infantry force from the Golani Brigade identifying a number of armed gunmen planting an explosive device. The force fired at the gunmen. In a third incident, a reserve infantry force identified a squad of gunmen approaching and fired at them.
The IAF attacked approx. 25 Hamas terrorist sites today, including:
-Two smuggling tunnels in the southern Gaza Strip used for smuggling weaponry.
-13 rocket launching sites
-Six squads of armed gunmen
-Five targets directed by ground forces
-A building with Hamas terror operatives inside
Over 15 rockets and mortars fired from the Gaza Strip hit the Israel. Amongst the cities hit were Ashdod and Kiryat Gat, where five civilians were reported wounded, one of them seriously.