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A PAIR OF Israeli air strikes have targeted two senior commanders from the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad, killing one in Gaza but missing another in Syria.
The strikes escalated Israel’s confrontation with Iran across the region and threatened to unleash another round of cross-border violence with Palestinian militants.
In eastern Gaza, the Israeli strike killed Bahaa Abu el-Atta and his wife, setting off a barrage of Gaza-fired rockets that reached as far as the Tel Aviv heartland as the Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad vowed further revenge.
The military said Abu el-Atta was the mastermind of recent attacks against Israel and the militant group’s senior commander in Gaza.
Three other Palestinian militants were killed in additional Israeli strikes.
Syrian officials said an Israeli air strike in the capital Damascus targeted another Islamic Jihad commander, Akram al-Ajouri, who was not harmed.
The state-run news agency said Israeli planes fired three missiles at al-Ajouri’s home, killing his son and granddaughter. The Israeli military had no comment.
The sudden surge in violence looked to spark Israel’s increasingly open conflict with Iran and its proxies in the region. Iran supplies Islamic Jihad with training, expertise and money, though most of the group’s weapons in Gaza are believed to be locally produced.
Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a series of warnings recently about alleged Iranian aggression throughout the Middle East.
He has also been criticised by residents along the southern border and political rivals for a weak response to recent militant attacks. His Security Cabinet held a lengthy emergency meeting to discuss further action.
Afterwards, speaking alongside military chief Lieutenant General Aviv Kochavi, Netanyahu said Israel had no interest in escalation but would do everything necessary to defend itself against people like Abu el-Atta, whom he described as an “arch terrorist” and “the main generator of terrorism from the Gaza Strip”.
“He was in the midst of plotting additional attacks these very days. He was a ticking bomb,” he added.
The air strikes come at a difficult time politically for Israel, as Netanyahu leads a caretaker government after two inconclusive elections. His chief challenger, former military chief Benny Gantz, is trying to build a coalition government of his own.
Gantz said he had been briefed on the air strike in advance, calling it “the right decision”, and Netanyahu updated his rival on developments later on Tuesday, according to the prime minister’s office.
A successful military operation could bolster Netanyahu as he seeks to hold on to power — especially if he is indicted on corruption charges.
Israel’s attorney general is expected to make a decision in coming weeks, and an indictment would increase pressure on him to step aside. Netanyahu has sought to portray himself as the only leader capable of steering the country through its many security challenges.
The Gaza air strike killed Abu el-Atta as he slept at home.
Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus told reporters Abu el-Atta was responsible for several recent attacks on southern Israel and was actively planning new ones. “We essentially over the last week have been waiting for the opportune moment to conduct this surgical strike,” he said.
He said the air strike destroyed only the floor of the building in the Shejaeya neighbourhood, in eastern Gaza City, to minimise collateral damage.
Abu el-Atta’s relatives and Islamic Jihad said Abu el-Atta’s wife was killed and the two wounded were their children.
The militant group said 42-year-old Abu el-Atta was undergoing “a heroic act” when he was assassinated.
His father said the Islamic Jihad commander had been in hiding in recent weeks fearing he would be targeted.
Minutes after the group confirmed the death, barrages of rockets were fired towards Israel. Air raid sirens continued to go off throughout the day as far as Tel Aviv.
In one instance, a rocket landed on a highway, yards from a passing vehicle. In another, a rocket pierced the roof of a residential home.
The military said more than 50 rockets were fired in a few hours, with 20 intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome defence system. The Mada rescue service said two people were treated for shrapnel injuries.
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4 hours?? The ones in Mayo have been burning for 2 full days now!!
The fires in Erris co mayo last night were one of the scariest things I’ve ever seen. People were even evacuated from their homes.
I’m on Achill for the week and we’ve seen smoke from the same area for 3 days now, nothing under control about the fires down here.
4 days now!
How are these fires starting? It’s not like we have had weeks of dry weather and scorching sunshine. I’m not being sarcastic, I’m just really curious as to how these fires are happening.
I kid you not , last year I rang the local Garda station about fires in our area. This is what the Garda said, no joke……
Garda – sir have you ever heard or NASA
Me – yes
Garda – well they told us that a meteor was about to land in Ireland somewhere this evening
Me – really , I heard nothing in any radio station , news , think that would be quite news worthy
Garda – well it’s just in
Me – really
Garda – yes , so it may have hit your area and that is causing the fires
Me – you are taking the piss !
Garda – no that is the truth
Me – right…….. Thanks ……. So it not a local farmer setting off the fires to burn the gorse !
Garda – no a meteor
Me – right ………thanks ………. Hung up ……… WTF!!
So in short , no one really cares if your house is burned down!
They are burning the heather and clearing land. But killing thousands and thousands of wildlife in the process. Normally the fire wouldn’t spread but because the weather is so dry it’s rampant. Only 3 fire engines battling 4 large fires in Mayo. They haven’t the resources to calm these fires.
Considering it was a fire would it not have been more appropriate to ring the fire brigade!!!
Why would you ring the gardai about a fire. Would u ring them when your sick as well???
Peter everybody knows that you ring the guards when you’re sick, you are locked out of your house, there is a fire, there’s an object in the sky which may be a flare or even a UFO, when there’s a smell of gas, when your sister gets sunburned, when you find a dog, when people communicate with you through their televisions, when you see a ghost, when you get crap food in a restaurant, when you are refused entry to a night club because you’re pissed and most of all when there is any sort of noise RING THE GUARDS they are trained in all of the above!
The fires were happening every night for 2 weeks ,hence rang the Garda as its illegal to light fires in public areas …………
its a gorse fire not a forest fire.
Could it be farmers clearing land for sheep?
They should ban this outright and start throwing people in jail for it before some one loses their home or worse.
Idiot farmers burning land they have no intention of using anyway because of some old notion that belongs with the fairy forts and leprechauns.
This state has a divison of the Civil Defence that is called the Auxiliary Fire Service. If all retained or FT unots are stretched then they should be utilised.
That fire in the Silvermines mountains last night was pretty terrifying, it stretched the whole length of the mountain, was a sight to see.
I was on my way home from Shannon. The smoke could be seen at the toll bridge on the Shannon side of Limerick and I could still see it from Borrisokane. From the Limerick side, it looked like the whole mountain was about to erupt. It was an amazing sight. Nowhere to pull up to take pics though. I can’t imagine the smell that must have lingered in those houses in its path. Everything must be destroyed.
Can be something stupid like someone throwing a cigarette butt to a spark from a chimney .
Love how they only let farmers burn before the 1st of march, great burning weather that time of the year!
Its shatters fault for trying to cut wages come on people open your eyes don’t be sheep
Not sure if troll….or complete idiot…. :|
I’m thinking both!
Not to worry, the rains making a swift return.
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