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Gazan fire kites set 20 fires in Israel, which responds with 3 airstrikes
[IsraelTimes] Authorities on Sunday said they counted at least 20 brush fires during the day around the Gazoo border area caused by incendiary balloons launched from the coastal enclave. A similar number of fires were set the day before.Israel has been hard pressed to find a way to thwart the attacks, and the army recently stepped up  s against Gazooks connected to the kite and balloons launches.In recent days, the military has taken to firing warning shots at groups launching the flaming kites and balloons, which have already burned thousands of acres of farmland, forests and parks, and caused millions of shekels in damage. The Israeli Air Force on Sunday evening attacked three targets connected to a group of Paleostinians who had launched incendiary balloons into southern Israel on Sunday evening. The airstrikes, which caused no casualties, came as multiple balloons with small bombs touched down in southern Israel and others bearing pouches of burning material set fire to large swaths of land in the area. The army said it first fired a warning shot near the Paleostinians who were launching the balloons toward Israel. Approximately half an hour later, the Israel Defense Forces said it conducted a second round of strikes, hitting the tent in which the group was operating and a car that had been used to bring people to the area. The IDF’s attack on Sunday evening was its third airstrike of the day. On Sunday afternoon, an Israeli aircraft also targeted a group of Paleostinians who had sent incendiary balloons into southern Israel from the southern Gazoo Strip, near the city of Khan Younis. In the predawn hours of Sunday, the air force also bombed a car that the army said belonged to one of the leaders of the Gazook kite and balloon attacks. IDF says if it escalates response to Gaza kite arson, it could cause war [IsraelTimes] An army front man tells Israeli residents near the Gazoo border that if the IDF responds more harshly to the incendiary kites and balloons being sent into Israel, it would lead to war, Hebrew media report Sunday. The front man is addressing residents of the towns adjacent to the coastal enclave, who were losing patience with daily arson attacks, which have led to the loss of thousands of acres of farmland, forests and parks, and caused millions of shekels in damage. He explains the IDF’s latest policy of firing warning shots at groups launching the flaming kites and balloons. "The alternative to kite terror is war," he says. "If we respond too strongly it could lead to escalation. You would be in your bomb shelters and you don’t want that, especially when the construction of the barrier against the tunnels has not yet been completed." Posted by: trailing wife 2018-06-18 |
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