GOC Southern Command chief Yoav Galant
GOC Southern Command chief Yoav GalantIsrael news photo: Flash 90

GOC Southern Command chief Gen. Yoav Galant warned southern regional council heads Wednesday that Negev residents should “prepare themselves for another round of fighting.” The comments came during a tour of the regional council areas, as officials marked the first anniversary of the IDF’s counterterrorism Operation Cast Lead in Gaza.

Galant said the quiet along the southern border may have been only temporary, but that the IDF was prepared to face any surprises Gaza terrorists might have in store. “It’s true that we are after the first rains, and the sun is shining, but one can see the dark clouds in the distance,” the commander said.

Gaza terrorists fired a volley of 10 mortar shells at southern Israel at midday on Thursday, all of them exploding in open areas around the western Negev. Three landed near the Kerem Shalom crossing while trucks were waiting to deliver humanitarian supplies in Gaza; the crossing was closed, the shipments were cancelled and the trucks turned back. Three others exploded next to a kibbutz in the Shaar HaNegev region. Others landed in various areas, one in the coastal region.

Hebrew video:

Iron Dome Ready, Soon to be Deployed

The IDF announced Wednesday that the Iron Dome mobile missile and artillery defense system had successfully completed the testing phase and will soon be deployed in southern Israel.

The system, developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, was able to handle a multi-pronged attack, simultaneously neutralizing a multitude of incoming rockets and mortar shells in mid-air.