Rockets hit north of Tel Aviv as Hamas dramatically ups range

While you were busy being distracted by the World Cup:

No initial reports of injuries or damage after massive barrage across country; Netanyahu vows to widen Gaza operation, as cabinet okays call-up of 40,000 troops; rockets shot down over Tel Aviv; terrorists killed in firefight at Zikim army base; Gazan death toll in double digits

Israel launched a major operation against Hamas and other terror groups in Gaza in the early hours of Tuesday morning, dubbed Operation Protective Edge, following heavy Hamas rocket fire over the preceding days. The fast-escalating situation in the south comes in the shadow of spiking Jewish-Arab tensions in Israel over the brutal killings of four teenagers — three Jews and one Arab — by extremists. Stay with The Times of Israel’s liveblog for updates throughout the day.

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23:30

Rockets hit Hadera, coastal region

Rockets fired from Gaza hit Israel’s coastal plain, as well as the city of Hadera, located between Haifa and Tel Aviv.

Hadera, which lies in the Haifa district, was hit by three rockets launched by Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2006. At the time, was the farthest point in Israel that Hezbollah was able to hit.

This evening, the city becomes the farthest points in Israel that Hamas rockets have been able to reach.

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23:19

Explosions heard in Sharon area, Tel Aviv

Several explosions are heard in the skies over the Sharon area north of Tel Aviv.

In the city itself, at the heart of Israel’s largest metropolitan area, a massive explosion was heard in recent minutes, according to residents.

Full article: Rockets hit north of Tel Aviv as Hamas dramatically ups range (The Times of Israel)