BICOM

Hopes for a return to calm in the south of Israel were dashed yesterday, as Gaza-based Palestinian armed groups fired Grad rockets at the southern Israeli city of Beersheva. Rockets were also fired at Sderot and Ashkelon. No injuries or damage were reported. The municipal authorities in Beersheva, Ashkelon and Ashdod have ordered that schools will remain closed in their areas today. The Iron Dome anti-missile system succeeded in intercepting two rockets on their way to their targets, one launched at Beersheva and the other at Sderot.

PM Netanyahu yesterday denied reports that a ceasefire had been brokered between Israel and Islamic Jihad, the Iranian-supported group that has been responsible for most of the recent rocket attacks. Netanyahu also said that Israel would continue to strike back at elements attempting to disrupt the quiet in the south. Yesterday, the IDF approved a series of measures aimed at widening the scope of its responses to the ongoing rocket attacks from Gaza, as Egypt attempts to mediate a second ceasefire after the first attempt at a truce lasted only several hours.