IDF aerial attack against terror cell en route to launch Katyushas
(Communicated by the IDF Spokesperson)
14 Jun 2006

Yesterday morning (Tuesday), 13 June 2006, the IDF carried out an aerial
attack in the northern Gaza Strip against a vehicle loaded with rockets and
carrying a Islamic Jihad terrorist cell en route to launch long-range
Katyusha (Grad) rockets against Israel. Thirty-eight rockets have been
launched at Israel from the northern Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours; over
100 rockets have been launched at Israel since Friday, 9 June 2006.

According to Palestinians reports three terrorists who operated in the cell
were killed, as well as eight civilians. After the attack the terror cell
was seen removing the rockets from the vehicle.

"I state clearly that we are saddened by the deaths of these innocent
Palestinians but hold absolutely no responsibility for them. The
responsibility lies entirely on the shoulders of the Palestinians," said the
Chief of Staff Dan Halutz last night, who added that "the incident must be
evaluated in its context, which is that Palestinians attempted to launch
Grad rockets against Israel, and we acted with determination to prevent
their firing."

This is the fourth time in the past two months in which terrorist cells
attempt to launch Grad rockets at Israel. On Knesset election day (March 28)
a rocket fell south of Ashkelon; about a month later another attempt was
thwarted. On the third attempt, which occurred on May 15, the rocket hit an
Israeli community north of the Gaza Strip, and damaged civilian
infrastructure.

These rockets are capable of causing much more serious damage than the
Qassam rockets, because they can reach a range of 15 to 20 kilometers and
carry much more explosives. Since Friday morning terrorists have launched
over 100 projectile rockets at Israel, 38 of these within the last 24 hours.