IDF
Continued attack against the Israeli home front, Iron Dome intercepts 37 rockets directed at densely populated regions. Updates forthcoming  20:35

Just today 16 rockets launched from the Gaza Strip hit Israeli territory and the Iron Dome anti-missile defense system intercepted 13 rockets launched at densely populated regions.  

Since the beginning of the escalation, over 135 rockets have been fired by Gaza Strip terrorists at Israel, targeting Israeli communities including the cities of Be’er Sheva, Ashdod and Ashkelon, adding up to 520,000 people. 97 of these rockets hit Israeli territory injuring 22 civilians and causing damage to a house in the cities of Ashdod and Be’er Sheva.

See: Iron Dome anti-rocket system surpasses expectations

The Iron Dome anti-missile defense system has successfully intercepted 40 Grad rockets, of the 46 attempts to intercept rockets directed at densely populated regions. The system’s 90% success rate has been praised by Defense Minister, Ehud Barak as well as by IAF commander
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Since last Friday (March 9) 22 Israeli civilians were injured as a result of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip: one severely, two intermediately, seven lightly injured and 12 suffering from panic, several in the Eshkol Regional Council.

Due to the continuous rocket fire and concern for the safety of Israeli civilians, schools in southern Israel will be closed tomorrow for the second day in a row
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18:25 The Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz is currently gathering the operational forum of the General Staff for an operational assessment, in order to summarize and give further operational instructions in response to the continued rocket fire against the Israeli home front. He instructed to continue operating with determination against every attempt to attack the State of Israel.

Chief of Staff followed the Home Front Command’s recommendation to close schools in southern Israel tomorrow as well. It was suggested that schools located up to seven kilometers from the border that are fully equipped with protected buildings, will operate regularly.

17:00 Since the beginning of the escalation, over 135 rockets have been fired by Gaza Strip terrorists at Israel. 93 of these rockets hit Israeli territory, injuring 22 civilians and causing damage to a house in the cities of Ashdod and Be’er Sheva.

The Iron Dome anti-missile defense system has successfully intercepted 37 Grad rockets, of the 46 attempts to intercept rockets directed at densely populated regions.

14:30 Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Gantz spoke at a ceremony for the appointment of new GOC Central Commander Maj. Gen. Nitzan Alon, and said that “the IDF The IDF has been responding and will continue to do so with strength and determination against any firing of rockets at Israel. We are prepared to defend the citizens of Israel and to establish severe consequences to any attempt of harming their daily routein lives. Hamas and other terror organizations continue to strengthen themselves, as we follow their moves. We are not interested in escalations, and we hold Hamas responsible for what is occuring in the Gaza Strip.”So far over 135 rockets fire from the Gaza Strip at Israeli communities.

13:30 A short while ago, IAF aircraft targeted a terrorist, moments before firing a Grad rocket at the city of Ashdod. The aforementioned terrorist fired a Grad rocket at Ashdod earlier this morning. A direct hit was confirmed.

 13:00 Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz addressed the escalation in the south and said that “Over the weekend more than 120 rockets were fired at Israeli territory. 90% of the rockets that were directed at highly populated regions were intercepted by the Iron Dome anti-missile defense system. The IDF is demonstrating its exact, high-quality operational capabilities that allowed the targeting of 15 Palestinians involved in terror activity. The IDF will continue responding with strength, determination and precision against every rocket launched at Israeli territory.”

11:50 Earlier this morning, IAF aircraft targeted a terrorist at a rocket launching site from which two rockets were fired -at the city of Ashdod a short time beforehand, in the northern Gaza Strip. A hit was confirmed.

The IDF is prepared to defend the residents of Israel and will respond with strength and determination against any attempt to execute terrorist attacks. Hamas uses other terror organizations to carry out terror attacks against the State of Israel and will bear the consequences of these actions in any future operation embarked upon by the IDF in order to eliminate the terror threat and restore the relative calm to the area.

08:30 Overnight, IAF aircraft targeted a terrorist squad that was in the final stages of preparing to fire rockets at Israel from the northern Gaza Strip.

In addition, a short while ago, IAF aircraft targeted two rocket launching sites, in the northern Gaza Strip, used by terror organizations to fire long range rockets into Israel (over 40 kilometers). Direct hits were identified.

So far 135 rockets have been fired by Gaza Strip terrorists at Israel, 82 hit Israeli territory.

Summary of updates March 9 – 10