Two Qassam rockets fell Tuesday night in southern Israel, causing damage to a high-voltage power line. No one was wounded. The Israel Electric Corporation sent personnel to repair the power line Tuesday night after it was struck by shrapnel from a Qassam rocket fired from the Gaza Strip. A second rocket landed in the northwestern Shaar HaNegev region and caused no damage or injuries. The rocket attacks were the first since the Palestinians officially request for statehood in the U.N. last week. Only a month ago, Israel faced its heaviest rocket bombardment from the Gaza Strip since Operation Cast Lead in 2009. The barrage led to the deployment of Israel's Iron Dome defense system, which is capable of intercepting rockets mid-flight, before they land in populated areas. The two operational batteries were deployed in Beersheba and Ashkelon. A third Iron Dome battery was deployed late last month in Ashdod, five miles north of Ashkelon, in response to the longer-range Grad rockets fired from the Gaza Strip that effectively brought the city to a halt in August. The system is still undergoing trials and is in its initial operational phase, an IDF spokesman said. Deploying the battery in Ashdod was a result of an analysis by presiding officials based on the changing security situation. Ashdod Mayor Yehiel Lasri praised the deployment. Deploying the Iron Dome before the school year is great news and gives our city's residents a sense of security, he said.
Renewed rocket fire from Gaza
Two Qassam rockets fired from the Gaza Strip in separate incidents Tuesday night • Iron Dome battery deployed in Ashdod after city was brought to a standstill in August rocket attacks • Ashdod mayor: Iron Dome will give city's residents sense of security.
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