Israel Matzav: Kassam hits outside of Ashkelon

Kassam hits outside of Ashkelon

Israel's southern border is heating up again.

A Kassam rocket fell just south of Ashkelon on Thursday afternoon. No injuries or damage were reported. Ashkelon, as you may recall, is in my backyard. That followed a barrage of ten mortars fired on Thursday morning. All of which left Israel handing out leaflets with maps.

One of the leaflets featured a map, and warns Gazans that anyone within 300 meters of the security fence is endangering himself.

Another leaflet urged Gazans not to sit idly by as smugglers put them and their communities in harm's way. It included a phone number and e-mail address for anyone willing to provide information about the smuggling tunnels.

On Thursday night, there are a whole lot of 'Palestinians' who are alive because they read those leaflets. The IDF has apparently struck back in Gaza City.

Several explosions were heard on Thursday night in Gaza City, in what Hamas and Palestinian radio stations said was the result of an Israeli air strike.

Smoke and flames were visible from the site of the blasts. The Israeli army had no immediate comment on the attack which came hours after Palestinian militants fired about a dozen mortars and rockets at Israel from the coastal territory.

Don't mess with us.

The picture at the top is a school in Ashkelon that was hit by rockets in February 2009 - fortunately on a Saturday when no one was there.

UPDATE 1:31 AM

YNet reports that the IDF confirms hitting Gaza City, and that more targets have been struck in the northern and southern parts of the Strip.

Israel Matzav: Kassam hits outside of Ashkelon