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A long exposure picture shows an interception by the Iron Dome anti-missile system over the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, May 14, 2021. (Avi Roccah/Flash90)
Cities and communities in southern Israel faced an intense barrage of rockets overnight Friday-Saturday, with several heavy waves of projectile fire targeting Ashkelon, Ashdod, Beersheba, Sderot and the surrounding areas.
The bombardment came as the Israeli military continued to strike numerous targets in the Gaza Strip since midnight, taking out rocket-launching sites, terror cells and a Hamas intelligence center, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
The military said it struck many rocket-launching positions, including a long-range launcher used to fire rockets at Jerusalem in the Monday salvo that began the latest conflict.
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Loud booms are reported near Tel Aviv as Hamas launches a massive barrage of rockets at the city.
Initial reports indicate several rockets are being intercepted in central Israel. There are no immediate reports of injuries.
Iron Dome interceptors fired against rockets launched from #Gaza a short time ago near Tel-Aviv. #Israelpic.twitter.com/CpaUmw27Y9
The Hamas military wing says it has launched 110 rockets at the city and at the nearby Ben Gurion airport.
Dozens of rockets are also fired at Beersheba. I m proud to work at The Times of Israel
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National Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai called the situation unprecedented.
“We are seeing a situation in the mixed [Jewish-Arab] cities that we have never seen before, including the incidents of October 2000,” Shabtai said. (Widespread rioting broke out among Arab Israelis in October 2000 at the start of the second Intifada.)
Arab violence erupted in numerous other cities across Israel, and there were also reports of Jewish revenge attacks, including in Lod, where a Muslim cemetery was set ablaze.
Attacks were reported on Jewish homes in Ramle, where cars were also stoned. In Acre, a restaurant and a hotel were set ablaze.
מסעדת אורי בורי בעיר העתיקה בעכו הוצתה@CBeyarpic.twitter.com/mB9y8GI9ol