Israel Police officers discovered the shell of a Grad rocket fired at Eilat late Thursday night after residents heard explosions in the area.There was also a similar attack from Egypt in April 2010, where one rocket overshot and hit Jordan and two ended up in the Red Sea.
Large forces of IDF and police are sweeping the city for additional rockets, focusing on the southern neighborhood of Shahmon, where the explosions were heard loudest. Bomb sappers are also on the scene, Army Radio reported.
No casualties were reported in the attack, but a number of citizens suffered shock symptoms and were treated by medical personnel on scene.
Eilat District Police commander Ron Gertner said that the southern city has been on full alert due to the upcoming Passover holiday, Israel Radio reported.
Gertner added that Eilat has been reinforced by additional forces that have arrived to assist police in handling the aftermath of the rocket fire incident.
Israeli authorities are coordinating with their counterparts in Jordan to discover the source of the rocket fire, according to Army Radio. The IDF stated that it is investigating the incident.
Rocket attacks in Eilat are rare but not unheard of.
In August 2010, five rockets landed in the area around Eilat, killing one Jordanian and injuring three more, in front of the Intercontinental Hotel. Two of the rockets exploded in Jordan, a third north of Eilat's hotel area, and two more in the Red Sea. The projectiles were thought to be Grad-type Katyushas launched from the Sinai Peninsula.
On the other hand, in 2005 there were several Katyushas that were fired by Islamist militants in Jordan, almost hitting two US Navy ships docked in Aqaba.