Breaking News: Mortars Fired From Gaza at Southern Israel

Jerusalem, 3 January, 2018 (TPS) -- Update 17:44 A third mortar was fired from the Gaza Strip at southern Israel, hitting an open field near the town of Re’im. The Code Red alarm sounded and no injuries or property damage were reported.

Update 15:41: An additional mortar hit the Eshkol Regional Council. Authorities said that again, the Code Red was not sounded and that the mortar hit an open field near Moshav Sufa.

Developing Story: At least one mortar hit southern Israel Wednesday, in the Eshkol Regional Council, near the Gaza border. Local authorities said the mortar hit an open field and that no Code Red alarm sounded; no injuries or property damage were reported.

Eshkol Regional Council spokespeople said security forces had deployed in the region and were scouring the area of the strike.

The attack was the 20th cross-border missile attack in the past month, and the second daylight strike in a week. Terror groups in Gaza have fired more than 14,000 rockets at Israel since 2001, attacks have been rare since Operation Protective Edge ended in July, 2014. The attacks picked up last month in response to US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Unconfirmed reports from Gaza following the mortar strike said that Israeli aircraft have attacked targets in the Strip.

*This is a developing story. TPS will provide additional information as it becomes available.