Yom Rishon
Sunday
13 Elul 5784
September 15 2024
At 06:32 this morning, alarms sounded across central Israel:
Or Yehuda, Kiryat Ono, Elad, Rehovot, Savion, Rishon Lezion, Shoham, Lod, Modi’in-Maccabim-Reot, Nes Ziona, Ramla, Beer Ya’akov, Yehud-Monoson, Ramat Gan, Holon, Meta Binyamin, Gezer, Hebol Modi’in, Gan Reva, Sdot Dan, South Sharon, Mate Yehuda, Brenner, Nahal Shurk, Latrun, Dan.
According to the IDF, 1 surface to surface missile was fired at Israel “from the east.”
However, residents in Jerusalem, Ashdod, and Modi’in reported hearing 4 explosions.
One resident here in Ashdod photographed this over his house–seemingly indicating that the missile(s) came from Gaza:
The IDF said: “Following the alerts that were activated a short time ago in the center of the country, a surface-to-surface missile launch was detected that crossed into the country from the east and fell in an open area, there are no casualties.”
Later the IDF refined where the missile(s) came from saying that they came from Iranian proxies in Iraq. A few minutes later, the IDF refined the refinement saying that they came from Yemen.
As for “no casualties”, MADA has announced that 5 Israelis were wounded on their ways to protected area.
As for if and how the missile(s) were shot down: to begin with they were not all shot down. At least one hit near Modi’in and caused a fire which is still burning. Initial reports were that the Arrow system intercepted the missiles; however, we now have multiple photos of Iron Dome interceptions:
One of those interceptors fell in the train station at Modi’in.
What are the bottom lines to the morning’s events?
1. Once again, Israelis are reminded of how vulnerable we are and how unreliable our missile defenses are. If the missiles came all the way from Yemen (13-15 minutes to cover at least 1,600-1,700 km, why weren’t they shot down before they got here? Where was our advance warning?
2. Once again, Israelis are reminded that information from the IDF often cannot be trusted.
3. Once again, Israelis find ourselves in fog with no one in charge apparently having any idea what is happening—and the rest of us having even less idea.
On the Ground in the North
About an hour and a half (07:51) after the events above, more Hezbollah barrages targeted Metulla (the uppermost red spot on the target areas below and Kiryat Shmona (the largest red spot on the bottom):
The IDF issued a statement shortly afterward: “A UAV (drone) exploded in Metulla. There were no casualties. There was damage to the place.”
What the IDF did not say is that yet another house was completely destroyed.
Yesterday, more than 60 missiles and drones exploded in northern Israel all across the northern border from Avivim to Kiryat Shmona.
On the Ground in Gaza
Yesterday afternoon (13:56) Palestinian terrorists in Beit Lahia in northern Gaza fired missiles at Ashkelon to an area about 5 miles south of our house here in Ashdod:
Obviously, the intercepts rattled the house here. This morning, the IDF has issued evacuation orders for the section of Beit Lahia from which the missiles were fired.
And so it goes in Israel this morning–attacked from all sides . . .
A student from Malawi, who had worked with an Israeli health volunteer in his country battling AIDS, came up to us as we walked down the street in the UC-Davis Picnic Day Parade and wanted to carry the Israeli flag.