~*~ The Chanukah War ~*~
Two Dead, 10 Wounded in Rocket Attacks
Gaza terrorists fired two rockets at the city of Ashdod. One rocket slammed into a downtown bus station, wounding five people.

by Maayana Miskin, Arutz Sheva
December 30, 2008

Ashdod bus station
File Photo
 

One person was killed and a second was badly wounded in a rocket attack on Nahal Oz on Monday night. A third victim was moderately wounded, and four were lightly wounded. The wounded were evacuated to area hospitals.

Gaza terrorists fired two rockets at the city of Ashdod on Monday night. One rocket slammed into a downtown bus station, wounding five people. Two of the victims were critically wounded. Several bystanders suffered psychological shock.

One of the critically wounded victims died from her injuries shortly after the attack. Police say the woman, whose name has not been released for publication, was driving when she heard the rocket warning system. The woman stopped her car and ran to the bus station for shelter, as suggested by government safety guidelines. Most bus stops do not actually provide protection from rockets, police said.

Two rockets were fired on Ashkelon as well. No injuries have been reported. One of the rockets landed north of Ashkelon and south of Ashdod. The attack cut off electricity to southern Ashkelon.

A rocket slammed directly into a house in a Sha'ar HaNegev region kibbutz shortly after the attacks on Ashdod and Nahal Oz. No casualties were reported in the attack.

Aerial surveillance showed terrorists launching two rockets towards the city of Netivot. The "Color Red" rocket warning system in the city was activated, but no strikes were reported.

Defense experts say terrorists are apparently firing rockets from several locations simultaneously. Hamas has rockets that can reach 40 kilometers, they say, putting the cities of Ashdod and Be'er Sheva in the range of fire.

The rocket that hit Ashdod was an upgraded Grad missile, experts said.

Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Ehud Barak met in Tel Aviv on Monday night to discuss the situation.

One person was killed in a rocket attack on Monday morning. The victim was identified as Hani Elmahadi of the Bedouin city of Aroer.

Terrorists managed to hit the Ashdod area for the first time on Monday morning. Hamas leaders have reportedly ordered terrorists to fire rockets as far as possible.