Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile defense system intercepted a third barrage of rockets fired at Tel Aviv from the Gaza Strip on Friday, Israel's Channel 2 has reported.
According to the broadcaster, Iron Dome batteries successfully intercepted four rockets – the third salvo of Gaza rockets to be fired at the city on Friday.
Air raid sirens wailed in Tel Aviv and in other cities in southern Israel, it added.
Five more rockets were fired at the coastal city of Ashdod, with no casualties – human or material – reported, Channel 2 said.
On July 7, Israel began a devastating military offensive on the Gaza Strip with the ostensible aim of halting Palestinian rocket fire.
On Thursday night, it stepped up its offensive to include ground operations inside the embattled coastal enclave.
At least 271 Palestinians have been killed – and around 2050 injured, many seriously – in unrelenting airstrikes on the blockaded Gaza Strip since Israel's operation began early last week, according to Gaza health officials.
Gaza-based resistance factions, meanwhile, have continued to lob rockets at Israel – some of which have reached Tel Aviv – in response to the deadly airstrikes.
Since hostilities began 12 days ago, two Israelis have been killed – a civilian killed by rocket fire from Gaza and a soldier taking part in the ongoing ground operation.
Israel's military offensive, dubbed "Operation Protective Edge," is the self-proclaimed Jewish state's third major assault on the Gaza Strip – home to some 1.8 million Palestinians – in the last six years.
By Alaa Rimawi
englishnews@aa.com.tr
www.aa.com.tr/en
