Israeli warplanes retaliating for rocket fire from the Gaza Strip pounded dozens of security compounds across the Hamas-ruled territory in unprecedented waves of airstrikes Saturday, killing at least 155 and wounding more than 310 in the single bloodiest day of fighting in recent memory.

The vast majority of those killed were security men, but civilians were also among the dead. Hamas said all of its security installations were hit and responded with several medium-range Grad rockets at Israel, reaching deeper than in the past. One Israeli was killed and at least four people were wounded in the rocket attacks. With so many wounded, the Palestinian death toll was likely to rise.

"The operation will last as long as necessary," declared Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, though it was not clear if it would be coupled with a ground offensive. Asked if Hamas political leaders might be targeted next, military spokeswoman Maj. Avital Leibovich said, "Any Hamas target is a target."

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Filed under: * Culture-Watch • Violence • * International News & Commentary • Middle East • Israel

1. William P. Sulik wrote: What the heck are “security compounds?”  Similarly, what are “security men?”  My guess is that these are the military bases from which the rockets are launched which target the civilian population in Israel in places like Sderot (a town of less than 20,000 which gets hit with at least 3 rocket/mortar attacks a day). December 27, 2:40 pm | [comment link]

2. Jeffersonian wrote: I mean, would we tolerate daily mortar attacks from Windsor on Detroit?  Assuming we could tell the difference between workaday Detroit and mortared Detroit, that is. December 27, 3:22 pm | [comment link]

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