Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TELAVIV2742
2007-09-11 11:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:
KASSAM ROCKET STRIKES IDF BASE; IDF LIKELY TO
how-toVZCZCXRO3936 OO RUEHROV DE RUEHTV #2742 2541150 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 111150Z SEP 07 FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3235 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 002742
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2017
TAGS: MOPS PTER PINS KPAL KWBG IS
SUBJECT: KASSAM ROCKET STRIKES IDF BASE; IDF LIKELY TO
RETALIATE IN MEASURED MANNER
REF: TEL AVIV 2707
Classified By: Luis G. Moreno, Deputy Chief of Mission.
Reasons: 1.4 (b)(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 002742
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2017
TAGS: MOPS PTER PINS KPAL KWBG IS
SUBJECT: KASSAM ROCKET STRIKES IDF BASE; IDF LIKELY TO
RETALIATE IN MEASURED MANNER
REF: TEL AVIV 2707
Classified By: Luis G. Moreno, Deputy Chief of Mission.
Reasons: 1.4 (b)(d).
1. (C) Israel Defense FORCE (IDF) sources confirmed to
Embassy Tel Aviv's Defense Attache early September 11 that a
Kassam rocket launched from Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza
Strip struck an IDF training center located one kilometer
north of the Gaza Strip in Zikim. According to the IDF's
report at the time, the attack -- which occurred at 0150 in
the morning -- injured between 50 and 60 IDF soldiers. Of
those, four were critically injured, seven were moderately
injured, and the rest lightly injured. The IDF source
reported no change in the IDF's operational readiness or
operational condition. According to Israeli media sources,
the military arm of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC)
and Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the
rocket attack. Israeli media sources later in the day
reported that the IDF responded with either an Israeli AIR
Force (IAF) airstrike or an artillery strike that wounded
four Palestinians.
2. (C) COMMENT: Early morning press accounts had more than
66 soldiers injured. A light injury in this context can
refer to undergoing shock that is normal from such a surprise
attack. The number of soldiers reportedly "injured" from the
rocket attack is unusually high for such a rocket, and begs
the question as to what constitutes an injury in this case,
or what kind of warhead the Kassam rocket carried.
3. (C) COMMENT, CONT.: The successful rocket attack on an
IDF base on the eve of the Jewish High Holidays comes as a
shock. Some Israeli politicians have already responded with
harsh rhetoric. If the media reports of the IDF response
cited above are accurate, this would be in keeping with the
assessment reported reftel that -- barring any major,
unprecedented attack -- the IDF will respond to successful
Kassam rocket attacks with pinpoint AIR or artillery strikes,
or small scale ground incursions against specific targets.
Even in this case, Israel's political and military leaders
remain reluctant to launch a larger ground operation into the
Gaza Strip. An IDF officer with responsibility for civil
affairs in the Gaza Strip told DCM and POLCOUNS this morning
that a large-scale offensive was unlikely because it would
"spoil the holiday season" and put Israel in a bad position
before the September 23-24 AHLC international donor's
conference in New York.
********************************************* ********************
Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv
You can also access this site through the State Department's
Classified SIPRNET website.
********************************************* ********************
JONES
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2017
TAGS: MOPS PTER PINS KPAL KWBG IS
SUBJECT: KASSAM ROCKET STRIKES IDF BASE; IDF LIKELY TO
RETALIATE IN MEASURED MANNER
REF: TEL AVIV 2707
Classified By: Luis G. Moreno, Deputy Chief of Mission.
Reasons: 1.4 (b)(d).
1. (C) Israel Defense FORCE (IDF) sources confirmed to
Embassy Tel Aviv's Defense Attache early September 11 that a
Kassam rocket launched from Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza
Strip struck an IDF training center located one kilometer
north of the Gaza Strip in Zikim. According to the IDF's
report at the time, the attack -- which occurred at 0150 in
the morning -- injured between 50 and 60 IDF soldiers. Of
those, four were critically injured, seven were moderately
injured, and the rest lightly injured. The IDF source
reported no change in the IDF's operational readiness or
operational condition. According to Israeli media sources,
the military arm of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC)
and Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the
rocket attack. Israeli media sources later in the day
reported that the IDF responded with either an Israeli AIR
Force (IAF) airstrike or an artillery strike that wounded
four Palestinians.
2. (C) COMMENT: Early morning press accounts had more than
66 soldiers injured. A light injury in this context can
refer to undergoing shock that is normal from such a surprise
attack. The number of soldiers reportedly "injured" from the
rocket attack is unusually high for such a rocket, and begs
the question as to what constitutes an injury in this case,
or what kind of warhead the Kassam rocket carried.
3. (C) COMMENT, CONT.: The successful rocket attack on an
IDF base on the eve of the Jewish High Holidays comes as a
shock. Some Israeli politicians have already responded with
harsh rhetoric. If the media reports of the IDF response
cited above are accurate, this would be in keeping with the
assessment reported reftel that -- barring any major,
unprecedented attack -- the IDF will respond to successful
Kassam rocket attacks with pinpoint AIR or artillery strikes,
or small scale ground incursions against specific targets.
Even in this case, Israel's political and military leaders
remain reluctant to launch a larger ground operation into the
Gaza Strip. An IDF officer with responsibility for civil
affairs in the Gaza Strip told DCM and POLCOUNS this morning
that a large-scale offensive was unlikely because it would
"spoil the holiday season" and put Israel in a bad position
before the September 23-24 AHLC international donor's
conference in New York.
********************************************* ********************
Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv
You can also access this site through the State Department's
Classified SIPRNET website.
********************************************* ********************
JONES