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Swarajya Staff
May 12, 2021, 10:26 AM | Updated 10:26 AM IST
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Israel’s transportation authority has stated that it is closing the country’s main international airport following a barrage of rocket fire on the Tel Aviv metropolis area.
As per reports, over 130 rockets were fired from Gaza at Tel Aviv on Tuesday night in what is described as the biggest militant attack ever on Israel’s largest urban centre.
One person was killed on the outskirts of Tel Aviv after a rocket attack by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.
According to media reports, a woman was killed in the town of Rishon Lezion when a rocket hit her directly; the Zaka aid organisation confirmed her death.
#BREAKING: Tel Aviv International Airport being evacuated amid deadly Hamas R0cket Att@cks pic.twitter.com/oGUNVTUJlc
— Megh Updates ð¨ (@MeghUpdates) May 11, 2021
A bus in the city of Holon was also struck by a rocket and burned out, leaving at least six people injured in the attack, DPA news reported citing Times of Israel.
One of the 100s of rockets that were just fired from Gaza toward Tel Aviv and central Israel exploded on a civilian bus.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 11, 2021
Hamasâ intentions are clear: kill Israeli civilians.
We wonât stand by and let this happen. pic.twitter.com/aNsA3dlgMe
The greater Tel Aviv area was in the cross-hairs of Palestinian militants, who sent a barrage of rockets towards the coastal metropolis, marking the heaviest attack the city has faced so far.
The Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv was closed to landings and departures due to the attacks, and flights were diverted to Cyprus.
#Hamas hit Tel Aviv #Airport a while ago, reports of several deaths.
— mb (@MoutasimBillah2) May 12, 2021
130 missiles have been fired at tel aviv, the attack is being described as the biggest attack in history.#AllahuAkbar pic.twitter.com/1mXQqhyoKT
The Islamist Hamas movement in charge of the coastal enclave had vowed a "harsh" rocket attack on Tel Aviv.
The official account of Israel Defense Forces shared a video of the Iron Dome defense system intercepting a barrage of rockets over Tel Aviv and central Israel.
RAW FOOTAGE: This is the moment the Iron Dome intercepted a barrage of rockets over Tel Aviv and central Israel. pic.twitter.com/8jl8OTgWCl
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 11, 2021
Notably, Israel had earlier announced the killing of the commander of the Hamas anti-tank missile unit, Iyad Fathi Faik Sharir who was in charge of carrying out anti-tank missile attacks on the nation.
With IANS Inputs