One killed, four wounded in terrorist rocket barrage from Gaza

(JWN)—An Ashkelon man was killed and four other residents of southern Israel were wounded when their towns were hit by a barrage of long-range Grad missiles fired from the Gaza Strip Saturday night.

Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack. The terrorist group fired some 20 Grad missiles and mortars, hitting densely populated areas in Ashdod, Ashkelon, and towns across southern Israel. In addition to the casualties, the missiles caused extensive damage to buildings and parked vehicles.

One of the rockets hit an apartment building and ignited cooking gas canisters, setting the nine-storey building on fire.

Islamic Jihad announced that the barrage was in retaliation for an air strike against their organization earlier in the day. In fact, Israel Air Force aircraft had intercepted a squad of terrorists preparing to launch rockets and killed all five of them before they could fire the rockets at Israel.

Security officials have announced a number of precautions in anticipation of further rocket attacks. All schools in Ashdod, Ashkelon, Be’er Sheva, and Kiryat Malachi were ordered closed Sunday and the IDF Home Front Command has instructed all those who live within a 40-kilometer radius from the Gaza Strip to stay close to protected areas.