BICOM

A Grad-model Katyusha rocket fired from Gaza hit Israeli’s largest southern city, Beer Sheva, yesterday evening. The rocket struck a building in a residential area of the city. The Grad rocket strike is the first time Beer Sheva has been struck since the 2009 Operation Cast Lead. Beer Sheva is home to about 200,000 people, and located 25 miles from the Gaza Strip. No casualties were reported from the strike, but several residents were treated for shock and anxiety.

Earlier in the day, the IDF clashed with Palestinian gunmen along the Gaza-Israel border. Ten people were injured in the incident, and one Islamic Jihad member was killed. The IDF said they responded after soldiers, on routine patrol, were targeted with an explosive device that was detonated near the border. “Shortly afterwards, a mortar shell was fired at the force and five additional mortar shells were fired into Israeli territory, landing in the Sdot Negev Regional Council,” an IDF statement read. The IDF pointed out that in the past two months, 12 devices have been placed near the border fence and detonated near IDF forces.

In response to the grad missile yesterday evening, Israeli aircraft struck at terror-related targets in eastern Gaza City. Three members of a rocket launching cell were injured. More than 40 rockets and mortars have been fired into Israel from Gaza since the beginning of the year, many by Islamic Jihad and landing on open areas. Hamas itself has been trying to enforce restraint in the firing of rockets for fear of triggering Israeli retaliation.