Wednesday, October 26, 2005

ISRAEL RESPONDS TO PALI ROCKET ATTACKS

Israel Responds to Palestinian Rocket Attacks - Nidal al-Mughrabi
Israel launched missile strikes in Gaza on Tuesday, targeting buildings it said were used by militants, in response to renewed Palestinian rocket attacks. Islamic Jihad gunmen said they had fired 25 rockets into Israel to avenge Israel's killing on Monday of Loai Assadi, one of their commanders. The Israeli army accused Assadi of masterminding two suicide bombings that killed 10 Israelis since the truce and said he was planning further attacks.
Palestinian Interior Ministry spokesman Tawfiq Abu Khoussa vowed authorities would no longer tolerate militant rocket fire, saying several rockets had fallen short, landing in Palestinian residential areas. "This act does not serve the interests of the Palestinian people, especially since there was a Palestinian agreement not to launch these actions from the Gaza Strip," he said. (Reuters)
See also Israeli Airstrike Targets Palestinian Rocket Launchers - Nir Hasson, Arnon Regular, and Jonathan Lis
An Israeli aircraft fired at least one missile at an open field in the northern Gaza Strip early Wednesday about two hours after Palestinian militants launched a rocket into Sderot in southern Israel. Ground forces also aimed artillery fire at the area, the army said, and several sonic booms caused by Israeli warplanes were heard in Gaza during the night. The air strikes in the Beit Hanun area caused no injuries or damage, Israel Radio reported. A Palestinian official said Israel had warned Palestinian civilians to stay away from the area. (Ha'aretz)
See also Islamic Jihad in Syria Ordered Rocket Strikes on Israel - Alex Fishman
The order to fire Kassam rockets at Israeli communities in recent days came from the Islamic Jihad's headquarters in Syria, Israeli security officials say. Israel also informed the PA that terrorists were planning to launch rocket attacks and asked PA security officials to take steps to prevent the fire, but the officials did not even pretend to act on the information. (Ynet News)

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