Rocket, mortar barrages hit Negev

Palestinian gunmen fire three Qassam rockets, 13 mortar shells from northern Gaza Strip toward Israel; no injuries or damage reported. One rocket lands near paratroopers company's reunion event attended by Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilna'i. Alert system activated as head of local council tells participants about residents' distress

Ali Waked
Published: 08.17.07, 19:16 / Israel News

Palestinians gunmen on Friday evening fired three Qassam rockets and 12 mortar shells from the northern Gaza Strip toward southern Israel. The al-Quds Brigades, the Islamic Jihad's military wing, claimed responsibility for the rocket fire.

Two Qassam rockets were fired at the western Negev at around 6 pm. One rocket landed near Sderot. Another rocket hit a kibbutz south of Asheklon. A third rocket launched several minutes later landed near a community in the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council.

The third rocket landed near a reunion event of a paratroopers company from August 1962, which was attended by Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilna'i, one of the company's squad commanders.