Kassam Launchers
Photo:Isranet
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In response to the barrage of mortar shells and the Kassam rocket fired into Israel yesterday [January 7], the Israel Air Force [IAF] struck and identified hitting four targets in the Gaza Strip in a joint Israel Defense Forces [IDF]–Israel Securities Authority operation. One terror tunnel in the central Gaza Strip, two smuggling tunnels in the Rafah Border area [Egyptian–Gaza border], and one weapons-manufacturing facility in Gaza City were among the targets. The terror tunnel was intended to be used for infiltration into Israeli territory in order to execute a terrorist attack against Israeli citizens or IDF soldiers. The tunnel was dug a kilometer [0.62 miles] away from the security fence.
More than 280 rockets and mortars were fired at Israel since the end of operation Cast Lead [January 2009], and more than 750 hit Israel in the whole of 2009. Throughout 2008, prior to Cast Lead, over 3,300 rockets and mortars were fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip.
The IDF will not tolerate the firing of rockets by terrorist organizations at Israel and will continue to respond against any attempt to disrupt the calm in Israel's southern communities.
(IDF Press Release, January 8, 2010)
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