Operation Cast Lead continues: IAF and Naval Forces strike Hamas

29 December, 2008

http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/the_Front/08/12/2901.htm
Video: http://dover.idf.il/NR/rdonlyres/299F829F-A109-4B57-940E-8341A969A01F/0/airstrikeseng2912.wmv

A short while ago, the IAF struck a Hamas vehicle loaded with dozens of Grad type missiles in the Jabaliya area, in the Gaza Strip.  The vehicle was hit resulting in the secondary explosion of the Grad missiles in the vehicle.  According to IDF assessments, the missiles were being transferred by Hamas to a hiding location, fearing that the previous location was being targeted by the IDF, or were on route to missile launching sites.

Late Sunday night (Dec.28), IDF forces struck dozens of Hamas targets including headquarters, weapons manufacturing and storage facilities, tunnels, missile launching pads, and equipment warehouses. 

Among the targets hit was the office of Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh in Gaza City. The IAF also targeted a weapons research and development center, located in the Rimel neighborhood of Gaza City, which was used as a laboratory to develop and manufacture explosives and was an integral part of the Kassam rocket manufacturing infrastructure. 

Hamas has been working tirelessly to extend the range and arsenal of their rockets and their developments have been demonstrated over the past few days. In February 2007, the Fatah Presidential Guard raided the facility and uncovered numerous weapons, including approximately 100 Kassam rockets, 250 RPG launchers, hundreds of assault rifles, lathes, and other materials used for rocket manufacturing.

Israel Naval Forces also struck a number of targets Sunday night, including Hamas vessels and posts. The Naval Forces reported direct hits.

More than 150 rockets and mortar shells have been launched at Israel since the beginning of Operation Cast Lead.