Rocket Threat to Israel:
Palestinian Rocket & Mortar Attacks

Operation Pillar of Defense:

On June 27 one rocket hit was identified in one of the western Negev communities, damaging a chicken coop. Two rockets targeting the southern city of Netivot were intercepted and destroyed by the Iron Dome aerial defense system.

Another round of escalation began after terrorist attacks along the Israeli-Egyptian border forced the IDF to target terrorist headquarters in the Gaza Strip. In response the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip initiated massive barrages of rockets targeting towns and villages in Israel's western Negev. The greatest number of rockets landed on June 20, when about 70 rockets hit the western Negev. The rockets damaged a number of buildings, including a school in Sderot. Two civilians were wounded and several suffered slight injuries, while several had to be treated for shock.

Rockets hits were identified in all the major cities and towns of southern Israel, including Beersheva, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Yavne, and Netivot.

The Iron Dome Anti-Missile System deployed around southern Israel was successful in intercepting approximately 60 rockets that were destined to strike in densely populated areas.  A GRAD rocket scored a direct hit on an elementary school in Beersheva, thankfully with no one present.

Around 30 people sustained injuries including those taken to hosptials for shock.  Israel responded to the escalation by targeting rocket launching squads in the Gaza Strip.

Rockets struck civilian areas in southern Israel.

At dusk on Friday, December 9, two rockets were fired towards Ashdod (pop. 200,000) - one was shot down by the Iron Dome anti-rocket system while the other fell in an open field. Another rocket landed at the Eshkol Regional Council. One of the rockets landed in an open area near Ashkelon while another was reported having hit in the Negev desert area. There were no reports of damage or injuries.

Rockets struck Ashdod (pop. 200,000), Ashkelon (pop. 113,000), Gan Yavne (pop. 19,000) and the Eshkol Regional Council, killing one person - 56 year old Ashkelon resident Moshe Ami - and injuring approximately 30 others. Several buildings, including a school, were damaged in the attacks. The IDF views this as a major escalation after more than two weeks of quiet on the southern front.

Fired at southern Israel from the Gaza Strip. There were no immediate reports of damage or injury.

More than 150 rockets and 45 mortars were fired into Israel from Gaza in August 2011 alone.

Fired from Gaza into southern Israel in the one of the largest escalations in recent years.

Rockets struck in almost every major Israeli city in the south of the country, including Beersheba, Ashkelon and Ashdod. At least 13 civilians were injured in the barrages and one, 38 year old Yossi Shoshan, was killed. On August 24, a nine-month old infant was lightly wounded when a rocket exploded near where she was being held. At least 7 rockets were intercepted and destroyed by the Iron Dome anti-missile system. One of the mortars fired at Israel contained illegal white phosphorous, an incendiary chemical that burns and leads to boils. Despite a ceasefire reached between Israel and Hamas on August 22, missiles continued to be fired.

At least seven injuries being reported.

One rocket hit a yeshiva while another rocket landed on a synagogue, though did not explode. The Gaza-based, Al-Qaeda-linked Abdullah Azzam brigades claimed responsibility for shooting at least two rockets on August 19.

Two of the rockets had longer ranges than usual and landed near the southern Israeli city of Kiryat Gat - an improved locally-manufactured rocket (August 3) and what was apparently a 122mm Grad rocket (August 4), after which a number of civilians were treated for shock. Another rocket fired on August 4 landed in the western Negev. Six mortar shell hits were identified in Israeli territory. They fell in open areas in the western Negev. No casualties were reported and no damage.

Hits identified in the western Negev (July 28 and August 1). An Israeli civilian woman suffered minor wounds from the rocket fired on August 1.

Hamas operatives fired the missile an Israeli school bus in the western Negev.

Two people were injured from the attack, one later died of his wounds. 16 year old student Daniel Viflic of Bet Shemesh died from his wounds suffered during the attack. Luckily the attack took place just minutes after the majority of students had been dropped off.

Six civilians were wounded, one of them critically. The main attacks were the following: On January 5, seven rocket hits were identified in the western Negev. There were no casualties and no damage. On January 6, seven mortar shell hits were identified over a 24-hour period. Two mortar shells hit a building and wounded six foreign workers, one of them critically and one seriously. On January 7 a rocket hit was identified near the security fence. There were no casualties and no damage. On January 10 three rocket hits were identified near the city of Ashkelon and one in an open area. There were no casualties and no damage.