The Hamas terror organization on Wednesday morning launched 10 rockets from the Gaza Strip into the sea, setting off a false alarm in the Israeli city of Sderot and the nearby community of Ibim.
The rocket launches were part of Hamas’ ongoing tests of its weapons systems. Hamas has been working to accelerate the rockets’ flight speed, the pace of fire and extend their range with the intent of overcoming Israel’s Iron Dome Defense system.
The Hamas and Islamic Jihad terror group carried out a 60-hour attack on Israel in May, during which they fired some 700 rockets at Israeli cities and towns.
Hamas has bragged that its new launching capabilities “can embarrass and challenge the Iron Dome system and maintain the constant fire for 30 hours.”
It has further claimed that its saturated firing methods have overpowered the Iron Dome’s capability to intercept their rockets.
“The Qassam Brigades’ rate of fire in the last round of hostilities was the highest in the history of the confrontation with occupation,” a Hamas official said, noting that the group simultaneously launched 56 rockets towards Ashdod and another 60 towards Ashkelon and Be’er Sheva.
Hamas further announced it will attempt to target the Iran Dome batteries in the next round of violence.
The Gaza-based terror groups have been successful in replenishing their rocket stockpiles, which were depleted after Operation Protective Edge in the summer of 2014, and are estimated to have some 10,000 rockets in their possession.
The terror organization launched 3,852 rockets during Operation Protective Edge. Since Hamas launched its saturated fire strategy in March 2018 it has fired over 1,900 rockets at Israel.