Israel Matzav

Bombardment

Two brothers aged three and nine were killed today by a Katyusha rocket that hit outside their Nazareth home, and many people were wounded in an onslaught of Katyusha's that were shot at cities and towns across northern Israel today.

The two children were playing outside their home in the Arab Israeli town of Nazareth today when they were hit by shrapnel from one of many Katyusha's that were shot at the town. The two deaths brought the total to 16 in rocket strikes since last Wednesday. A Mazda automotive repair shop in Nazareth was hit today along with a three-story residential building, both in the densely-populated Arab neighborhoods of lower Nazareth.

At least nine people were wounded from shrapnel in the attack, while 28 others were evacuated to hospital for treatment for shock. A number of wounded were evacuated to the city's Italian and English hospitals.

Residents of northern Israel are under orders from the Home Front Command to remain in their bomb shelters at all times, particularly when alert sirens are sounded.

Earlier today, a Nahariya resident was lightly wounded and evacuated to hospital, while a resident of a Haifa suburb was suffering from shock after Haifa, Tiberias, Karmiel, Afula, Kiryat Shmona, Hatzor HaGlilit, Ma'alot, Rosh Pina, Acre, as well as a number of communities in the Galilee and the Jezreel Valley, were pounded by a salvo of rockets.

Direct hits were reported in Karmiel and Haifa, but no one was wounded, as a more than 80 rockets were fired in the span of one hour around 3:00 this afternoon.

Earlier today, four people were also wounded, one seriously, when a Katyusha rocket landed near Tsfat (Safed).

Earlier still, two people were lightly wounded by shrapnel and others were suffering from shock after a Katyusha rocket struck a Haifa residence. The house was undergoing renovation and was therefore empty, Army Radio reported.

No warning siren was sounded before the barrage of seven rockets hit Haifa, the second round the city had witnessed since the morning.

YNet is reporting that the strikes on Afula Wednesday evening disrupted the water supply in town, and at this point the municipality has switched to using alternative sources. Mekorot, the Israel National Water Corporation reported it is attending to the matter and said the water supply will be resumed shortly.

Dozens of rockets have been fired by Hizbullah towards northern Israel, most of which landed in open territory.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:54 PM