JERUSALEM, Nov 13 (NNN-XINHUA) – Israel said, militants in the Gaza Strip fired rockets at Israeli cities on Tuesday, following its killing of a senior Islamic Jihad commander.
The rare rocket attack targeted Holon and Rishon LeTsion, both south of Tel Aviv, a coastal city in central Israel, a military spokesperson said.
The rockets triggered sirens across towns and cities in southern and central Israel.
The attack came after Israeli forces killed Baha Abu al-Atta, a senior commander with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, in a predawn attack on his house in the Shejaiya district in Gaza.
Gaza’s health ministry confirmed that Abu al-Atta’s wife was also killed in the attack, and three other people were injured.
The operation was authorised by Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli army said.
“Abu al-Atta was responsible for most of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s activity in the Gaza Strip, and was a ticking bomb,” according to the statement.
Israel was preparing for an escalation, declaring an emergency situation in southern communities, for fear of revenge attacks.
Schools were closed, all trains suspended, and residents ordered to stay indoors or in the protected area.– NNN-XINHUA