Givati Brigade and Armored Corps forces in conjunction with the IAF have been operating since Friday night in the northern Gaza Strip where rockets have been fired into Israel. During the operations, 20 year old St. Sgt. Doron Asulin from Beersheba and 20 year old St. Sgt. Eran Dan-Gur from Yerushalayim were R”L killed. Both were combat soldiers of the Givati Brigade. An IDF officer was moderately wounded during the operation and six soldiers were lightly injured. The injured soldiers were evacuated by helicopter to the Soroka Hospital in Beersheba for medical treatment.

Since the beginning of last night’s operations, forces have identified nine Grad missile launchings, four which are confirmed as having landed in Israel, near Ashkelon. In addition to this 30 Kassam rockets were fired, 13 of which fell in Israel, and 11 mortar shells were fired, three which fell in Israel.

47 terror operatives were killed during the operations. This evening, the IAF struck a truck transporting terrorists and 160 rockets intended to be launched at Israel. This afternoon, IDF forces attacked a number of terror operatives approaching the forces. In addition, the IDF attacked operatives armed with anti-tank missiles in proximity to the forces. The forces confirmed direct hits in both incidents.

This morning, IDF forces attacked two armed terror cells. The forces also attacked a number of long range rocket launchers. The IAF also targeted two weapons manufacturing facilities that were to be used by terror organizations in the central and northern Gaza Strip.

Following the Grad missile barrage into Ashkelon, the Homefront Command began to set off warning sirens throughout the city. The warning sirens will also be put into use in neighboring towns.A total of 77 terrorists have been killed since Wednesday, when an Israeli student at Sapir College in Sderot was R”L killed by a Kassam rocket.