IDF: Dramatic drop in attempts by Gaza terrorists to fire mortars toward border towns

The Israel Defense Forces says it has identified a dramatic decrease in attempts by Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists to launch mortars at southern communities near the border with the Gaza Strip.

“We detected a 50 percent reduction in attempts to launch mortars into Israeli territory, compared to previous rounds against Islamic Jihad,” says Lt. Col. “Ayin,” the commander of the IDF Gaza Division’s so-called “fire center,” which coordinates the unit’s offensive operations.

The officer, who can only be identified by his rank and initial of his name in Hebrew, says the unit has so far foiled eight attempts by Islamic Jihad cells or individuals to carry out anti-tank guided missile attacks on the border during the current escalation.

He says the successful efforts against Islamic Jihad come after isolating the area near the border — by closing off certain roads that are exposed to ATGM fire — quick response times against cells planning attacks, and cooperation with the Shin Bet security agency, Military Intelligence, and Air Force.