JERUSALEM (JTA) — Classes at schools in Ashdod not fortified against rockets were canceled over fears of retaliatory attacks into the southern Israel municipality from Gaza.
Some 4,000 students stayed home Monday; there are about 54,000 schoolchildren in Ashdod.
On Sunday, the Israeli military in a targeted attack critically injured an Islamic Jihad operative who the Israel Defense Forces said was directly responsible for five rockets fired last week at Ashkelon. The rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system.
Municipal officials feared retaliatory attacks.
An Iron Dome battery was moved to Ashdod early Monday morning, according to reports.
