2 Terrorist Rockets from Sinai Hit Eilat, No Injuries

Two rockets fired from the Sinai peninsula struck Eilat on Wednesday, causing no casualties or damage, in an attack claimed by Islamist terrorist group Magles Shoura al-Mujahddin.

Although air raid sirens were heard in the city at about 9 am, followed shortly by loud explosions, the Iron Dome battery in the area failed to intercept the missiles. The IDF attributed that to “operational reasons,” but would not elaborate.

There were no physical injuries, but a number of local residents were reportedly being treated for shock, The Jerusalem Post reported.

One of the rockets fell in an open area and one landed in a construction site. Israeli media also reported a possible third missile landing on the outskirts of the city.

Danny Lahav of Eilat’s Chamber of Commerce told reporters that he heard the sound of a “faint explosion” in the morning, followed by two louder explosions.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, traveling to London for the funeral of Britain’s late Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, said he had discussed the incident with Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon. However, there was no indication yet of an Israeli military response.

Israeli media quoted reports that rockets had also hit the tourist city of Aqaba in neighboring Jordan, but Jordanian Interior Minister Hussein Majali told the Associated Press that “no rockets” fell in Jordan.

A senior Egyptian military intelligence official in Sinai said the army was investigating the incident. He said investigators were looking into the possibility of strikes launched from southern Sinai, around the popular tourist area of Taba along the Red Sea and nearby mountainous areas.

This article appeared in print on page 1 of the April 18th, 2013 edition of Hamodia.