Rocket fired from Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula hits Israel’s town of Eilat - Armchair General and HistoryNet >> The Best Forums in History

RS116 · #1 06 Apr 12, 12:28

Thursday, 05 April 2012

http://english.alarabiya.net/article...05/205540.html

A rocket fired from the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula exploded overnight in the Israeli Red Sea resort town of Eilat early on Wednesday, but caused no injuries or damage, a senior police official said.

“This rocket, which was fired from Egypt, exploded in the town but did not cause any injuries or damage,” Eilat District police chief Ron Gertner told Israel’s army radio.

Gertner said the incident occurred shortly after midnight (2100 GMT) when a Grad rocket hit a construction site in the city, about 300 meters from a block of flats.

In all three loud blasts rocked the city, prompting hundreds of worried people to ring the emergency police number, according to AFP.

“Eilat residents heard three explosions in the night, but for the moment we have only found one rocket,” police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told AFP. Police were conducting searches to see if anything else had hit the town.

Pruitt · #2 06 Apr 12, 12:50

I would be curious as to who has Grad missiles in the Sinai?

Pruitt

calger14 · #3 06 Apr 12, 14:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pruitt

I would be curious as to who has Grad missiles in the Sinai?

Pruitt

I heard someone say it was Hamas

Pruitt · #4 06 Apr 12, 14:59

Why would Egypt allow Hamas to shoot Grads in the Sinai? Is it possible that the weapon was in Gaza and then went out into the Sinai to shoot? I thought the Egyptians were still putting restrictions on what went into Gaza. If they suddenly let Hamas out to play in Egyptian controlled territory, it would be a significant reversal in policy.

Egypt had to go through a bunch of bother to get the Sinai back. Are they willing to lose it again?

Pruitt

Glenn239 · #5 07 Apr 12, 09:14

The Sinai is pretty big, so I doubt Egypt had anything to do with it. If it continues it and Israel will have to coordinate better security.

Golani · #6 07 Apr 12, 14:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pruitt

Why would Egypt allow Hamas to shoot Grads in the Sinai? Is it possible that the weapon was in Gaza and then went out into the Sinai to shoot? I thought the Egyptians were still putting restrictions on what went into Gaza. If they suddenly let Hamas out to play in Egyptian controlled territory, it would be a significant reversal in policy.

Egypt had to go through a bunch of bother to get the Sinai back. Are they willing to lose it again?

Pruitt

Well, the official Egyptian deceleration was that "no rocket was launched from Sinai", thus proving that if you close your eyes real tight and mutter lies- they will become true.

Pruitt · #7 07 Apr 12, 15:00

What I am getting at is a Grad Missile on a launcher, with transport is a very visible thing. I don't understand why the Egyptians allowed one out of Gaza.

Second, have the Egyptians opened up their blockade of Gaza? All this time Hamas has been whining Palestinians can't build new homes and yet they can shoot Grads now?

It is a case of simple mathematics to follow the line of flight back to the launching point. It is easier when it is seen on radar.

There is a smell about this...

Pruitt

Golani · #8 07 Apr 12, 15:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pruitt

What I am getting at is a Grad Missile on a launcher, with transport is a very visible thing. I don't understand why the Egyptians allowed one out of Gaza.

Look, certain titles have turned into mainstream in the media so that it easily catches the consumers ears and he can immediately associate it with location.

Thus, a short range rocket fired from Lebanon will ALWAYS be a Katyusha, a short range rocket down south will ALWAYS be a Qassam, a medium-long range rockets will always be a Grad, etc.
That doesn't necessarily mean its not correct at times, but its also far from being accurate all the time.

Even when it is a Katyusha (a.k.a BM-21) it's not a Katyusha in its traditional sense of multi-barrel launches, but rather something more suitable for guerrilla-terror organizations.
Here's the picture of the "Grad" remains, you can be the judge of it:
http://news.walla.co.il/?w=/2689/252...018/5/@@/media

Quote:

Second, have the Egyptians opened up their blockade of Gaza?

Oh yeah, long ago, it was permanently open in May 2011 IIRC.

Quote:

All this time Hamas has been whining Palestinians can't build new homes and yet they can shoot Grads now?

Well, that has always been the case.

Pruitt · #9 07 Apr 12, 17:59

I googled Grad and got some more data. The grad is much smaller than I thought. It can be fired singly as well. Sounds a bit like the Soviet Rockets the VC used to fire at camps. Also, I saw Hamas fired some at Eilat/Aqaba in 2010.

Pruitt

Trailboss49 · #10 08 Apr 12, 12:24

Gosh, ain't a change of government in Egypt just great? I'm sure it'll play out so there's nothing but harmony and gleeful singing all along the Mediterranean.

Realistically, I wonder if the Egyptians will allow a much more liberal actions by the Hezbollah. Wouldn't surprise me.

***GCoyote*** · #11 08 Apr 12, 12:39

With the rise of direct competition from the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist political organizations, the Egyptian military regime is pretty well absorbed just trying to maintain power. IOW they have their hands full and Israel is just not their biggest problem right now.

Hamas and its a supporters can certainly be expected to take full advantage of the this situation. I'm rather less concerned with one or two rockets now than with the disruption of the Egyptian secret police. Hamas was on of their main targets. With that pressure gone, Hamas is very likely setting up new wholesale smuggling networks and it's anyone's guess what they are really bringing in.

IMO we are barely seeing the tip of the iceberg here.