Israel’s Iron Dome defense system successfully protected residents and tourists in the southern resort city of Eilat from missiles fired from Egypt.
Terrorists operating out of Egypt fired four missiles towards the southern city of Eilat late Wednesday night. An Iron Dome anti-missile defensive system successfully intercepted three of the projectiles, while the fourth exploded in an open space outside the city.
No damage was caused by the attack, but four people were treated for shock at a local hospital.
While the residents of one of Israel’s most popular tourism destinations were rattled by the rare incident, life quickly returned to its normal course, and no cancellations of reservations or events were registered.
Speaking to IDF Radio on Thursday morning, Eilat Mayor Meir Yitzchak Halevi said that all of the city’s 12,000 students had gone to school as usual, four inbound flights from Europe were on their way, and that the attack had little actual effect on the city’s conduct.
“I want to believe that we will successfully return to routine quickly, and that we relate to this incident as a passing one,” he said.
Rocket attacks on Eilat are relatively rare. Islamic State (ISIS)-affiliated terrorists moving in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula have been behind a number of attacks on the city and on Israel’s border with Egypt in recent years.
No organization has taken responsibility for the attack, although it is believed to be the work of ISIS in Sinai.
This rocket attack comes just days after terrorists from Gaza fired a rocket at Israel’s civilians in the south. The rocket exploded in an open space on Monday, causing no casualties or damage. The IDF retaliated with tank shelling and airstrikes on Hamas targets inside Gaza.
Exchange of Fire in the North
In related news, a tank shell fired from Syria into Israel’s Golan Heights in the north exploded earlier in the evening in an open space, causing no casualties or damage.
The incident is believed to be another spillover from the civil war being waged across the border.
The IDF responded by launching an attack on a Syrian military target. “The IDF will not tolerate any attack on Israel’s sovereignty or the security of its citizens and sees the Syrian regime is responsible for what happens in its territory,” an IDF spokesperson said.
Israel has mostly stayed on the sidelines throughout the Syrian civil war. The IDF returned fire, however, when rockets or mortar shells strayed into Israeli territory.
Israel has also reportedly carried out a number of airstrikes against terror organizations and suspected weapons shipments destined for those groups.
By: Max Gelber, United with Israel