Israel intercepts rockets over Eilat

Published August 13th, 2013 - 06:31 GMT
Map of the Sinai peninsula. (Image courtesy of notgoodenough.com)
Map of the Sinai peninsula. (Image courtesy of notgoodenough.com)

Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile systen intercepted two rockets fired towards the Israeli city of Eilat on Monday night, according to Israeli media reports.

The Iron Dome anti-missile system,  just recently stationed near Eilat, reportedly intercepted two rockets before they could reach their target of the populous southern town of Eilat, whilst an additional rocket  was left to explode in an unpopulated area. 

There have been no claims of injuries from the attacks. 

According to local residents, sirens could be heard throughout Eilat shortly before 1:00am, and the sound of explosions were heard shortly after.  

An army spokeswoman on Tuesday confirmed the attempted rocket attack and its interception by an Iron Dome defence system near Eilat, but did not say where the rocket originated, according to Al Jazeera.

 According to Israel's channel 2, the IDF and the police are searching the area to determine whether any rockets exploded inside the city, but so far have not located any remains of rockets, Egypt Independent reported.

Israeli media claim that Jamaat Ansar Bayt Al-Maqdis took credit for the attacks.

Another group, The Mujahideen Shura Council, an armed group linked to al-Qaeda, posted a that they were responsible for the attacks shortly after the missiles were intercepted.

Officials told AFP news agency that the strike came from the Egyptian military, as part of their campaign to curtail a surge in violence and rein in militant activity in the lawless Sinai.

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