The military statement said explosions and flashes of light were
reported near Eilat around 5 a.m. on April 22. The military and police then
searched Eilat, but found no signs of rockets.
"A few hours following the incident, it was reported that remains of a
Katyusha rocket had been discovered near the city of Aqaba, Jordan," the
military said.
This marked the first rocket attack from Jordan since 2005. At the time,
the Al Qaida network in Iraq, which targeted a U.S. Navy ship in Aqaba,
claimed responsibility.
Officials said Israel and Jordan were investigating the rocket fire. So
far, no group has claimed responsibility. The 122mm Katyusha, known as the
BM-21 Grad, was said to have a range of between 20 and 40 kilometers.
Aqaba contains a Palestinian majority that includes Al Qaida
sympathizers. Hizbullah has sought to use Aqaba for rocket attacks against
Israel, and several operatives were captured in 2001.
Jordan has denied that Grads were fired from its territory, and
officials indicated that the launch took place along the border with Saudi
Arabia. Jordanian Communications Minister Nabil Sharif said one of the rockets struck a
warehouse in Aqaba.
"The minister categorically dismissed media reports that alleged that
the missile was fired from within the kingdom, adding that investigations by
concerned authorities were proceeding to determine the source of the rocket
fire," the official Jordanian news service, Petra, said.
