Hamas uses large rocket arsenal in latest escalation round with Israel
In its latest confrontation with Israel, Hamas used precision-guided rockets to target Israeli sites for the first time, thus killing Israelis for the first time since 2014.
Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, launched May 10 seven missiles toward Jerusalem, carrying high-explosive warheads with a range of 120 kilometers (75 miles) in response to Israeli actions in Jerusalem, settler incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque and pressure on residents of Sheikh Jarrah to leave their homes. Meanwhile, the Israeli army stated that it had only intercepted one missile and was forced to evacuate the Knesset building.
On May 11, two Israelis were killed and 60 others wounded when Hamas launched 137 S40 missiles at the cities of Ashkelon and Ashdod, with one directly hitting a building.
On the same night, central Israel was subjected to the heaviest bombardment since the escalation began, with dozens of rockets falling in Tel Aviv and Gush Dan, killing one person, wounding dozens and hitting the main oil storage tank.
On May 12, Hamas fired SH85 missiles at Tel Aviv and Ben-Gurion Airport, with a range of 85 kilometers (53 miles).
