Airwars assessment
Rockets fired by Palestinian militants into the Israeli city of Ashkelon caused damage to a number of buildings and cars, physically injuring three civilians including an eight month old child.
Multiple reports state that all those physically injured sustained their injuries whilst seeking shelter from the rockets. This included an eight month old child who sustained minor injuries when their mother fell whilst rushing to a bomb shelter, a 75 year old male who sustained a fracture to his hand and a 71 year old victim. All three were treated at Barzilai Hospital, where several reports state that two civilians aged 19 and 26 were also treated for anxiety in relation to the rocket attack.
Al Qassam claimed responsibility for the attack, publishing in their Telegram channel that “a number of buildings were damaged and a vehicle caught fire after the recent Qassam bombing of Ashkelon, Ashdod and Beersheba”.
One source claims that a rocket directly penetrated a Synagogue and went through to the Rabbi’s apartment next door. Another source claimed that a rocket hit the roof of a house whilst the occupants, two children and their father, were inside but in their safe room and unharmed.
Two sources report that the incident occurred around midday.
The incident occured around midday.
Summary
Sources (10) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]
Geolocation notes
Reports of the incident mention the city of Ashkelon (אַשְׁקְלוֹן), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.666667, 34.566667. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.
Palestinian Militants Assessment:
Original strike reports
16 May, 2021
14:03
Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades
Al-Qassam Brigades are now launching large rocket salvoes to the areas of Ashdod, Ashkelon, Beersheba, Sderot, the Ra’im base, and the 8200 wiretapping base, in response to the heinous massacre against children, women and civilians in Gaza City, and the attack on Sheikh Jarrah’s people and their sympathizers
14:29
Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades
The enemy admits that a number of buildings were damaged and a vehicle caught fire after the recent Qassam bombing of Ashkelon, Ashdod and Beersheba