Defense Minister Ehud Barak: "We will do everything to defend Israeli civilians" -- Over 30 projectiles fired at Israel in past day
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Date: 10/30/2011, 9:00am Author: IDF Website
Over 30 rockets and mortars were fired from the Gaza Strip at Israeli communities over the past day. Rockets and mortars struck Ashdod (population of over 200,000), Ashkelon (population of 113,000), Gan Yavne (population of 19,000) and the Eshkol Regional Council, killing one person and injuring approximately 20, most suffering from shock. Several buildings, including a school, were damaged in the attacks. A hit was confirmed, and the rocket launch attempt was thwarted.
15:15 - A short while ago, an IAF aircraft targeted a terrorist squad in the southern Gaza Strip that was preparing to fire rockets at Israel.
14:02 - IDF Spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Yoav (Poly) Mordechai told IDF Website that "the IDF is not waiting for any decision by Islamic Jihad. The chief of staff ordered the IDF to prepare for a number of responses which were approved by the government. During the day, the chief of staff updated the defensive deployments on the ground and in the air and he approved a number of operational responses which sharpened the IDF's response. There are plans for targeted strikes on terrorist infrastructure - and more. Until now, the IDF has targeted the weapons production and firing capabilities of Islamic Jihad, including an official in the group who was responsible for these matters."
13:00 - Defense Minister, Ehud Barak completed a situation assessment meeting with the Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Maj. Gen. Yair Naveh and other security and intelligence officials. During the meeting Barak was presented with further operational plans in Gaza. "We will do anything to defend Israeli civilians. I advise the Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist organizations not to test or capabilities," he said.
11:00 - Home Front Command Chief, Maj. Gen. Ido Eizenberg, visited the region hit by the Gaza rockets in the city of Ashdod and spoke with the people living there. Maj. Gen. Eizenberg said that "the Home Front Command instructions save lives, we send out warning before every rocket hits."
08:45 - The Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz is holding a situation assessment at the Southern Command operations room controlling the IDF's response to the escalation of violence in the south.
08:00 - IDF Spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Yoav (Polly) Mordechai said to the IDF that "the Chief of Staff completed a situation assessment after midnight and concluded that the IDF is preparing for a fierce response based on several levels of operations. We will examine the developments based on facts in the field and not any declarations. The IDF is prepared both in terms of defense and offense in order to defend communities in the south."
07:04 - The Iron Dome anti-missile system successfully intercepted two rockets fired from Gaza at Israeli communities in the south.
05:20 - 13 people lightly injured from the rocket fire were brought to the Barzilai health center, 10 were released to their homes and three are still in emergency care.
04:34 - Overnight, IAF aircraft targeted six terror activity sites in the Gaza Strip. Three rocket-launching sites and one terror tunnel were targeted in the northern Gaza Strip, and in the southern Gaza Strip two terror activity sites were targeted. Both Direct and secondary explosions were reported.
10/29/2011
23:35 - IDF Spokesperson Brig Gen. Yoav (Polly) Mordechai assessed that the Islamic Jihad was severely hurt from the IDF's attacks in response to the rocket fire. Brig. Gen. Mordechai said, "The attacks killed ten terrorists including Sheikh Ahmed Halili an elite Jihad member, and injured more. Overnight we will carry out additional operations. The Hamas terrorist organization has not responded so far and we will examine to what extent it is attempting to thwart this round, as the ruling body in the Gaza Strip."
22:50 - IAF aircraft targeted a terrorist squad in the northern Gaza strip that was preparing to launch rockets at Israeli communities. Additionally IAF aircraft targeted two armed rocket launchers in the southern Gaza Strip. Hits were confirmed.
22:15 - IAF aircraft target a terrorist preparing to launch rockets at Israel in the southern Gaza Strip. Hits were confirmed.
22:10 - IAF aircraft target terrorist squad responsible for firing rockets at communities in southern Israel. Hits were confirmed.
20:40 - The Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz held a situation assessment in response to the renewed rocket fire from Gaza. The assessment was held with the operational general staff including representatives from the Intelligence Corps, the Southern Command, the Home Front Command, the IAF and the Operations Directorate.
14:15 - In a joint IDF and the Israel Security Agency, IAF aircraft attacked a cell of terrorists preparing to fire long-range rockets from the southern Gaza Strip. This same terrorist cell was responsible for the rockets fired at the Be'er Tuvia Regional Council last Wednesday. Hits were confirmed and the launching attempt was thwarted.
The Home Front Command instructed the civilians to enter safe rooms for at least ten minutes when an alarm sounds. Additionally, any gathering of over 500 in southern Israel is to be cancelled. Further instructions including school system operation are forthcoming.
The IDF will not tolerate any attempt to harm Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers, and will continue to operate with strength and determination against anyone who uses terror against the State of Israel. The Hamas terror organization is solely responsible for any terrorist activity emanating from the Gaza Strip.
Above video posted on YouTube by idfspox1 - Above report/image/video by IDF .
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