Residents in Ashkelon saw a Grad explode in mid-air as the Iron Dome apparently worked. The IDF immediately began bombing targets in Gaza in response to the onslaught.
All 40 rockets can be away in as little as 20 seconds, but can also be fired individually or in small groups in several-second intervals. The BM-21 can be packed up and ready to move in two minutes, which can be necessary when engaged by counter-battery fire.
Egypt
The Egyptians domestically manufacture the rockets "Sakr-36" and "Sakr-18" with a respective range of 36 and 18 km (11 mi), and the latest "Sakr-45" with a superior range of 45 km (28 mi). Rather than a standard HE-Frag round, the Egyptian military prefers a 23-kilogram (51 lb) cluster munition, which can be extremely effective against lightly armored equipment and troop concentrations. Both rockets, as well as the original Soviet models of course, are fired by locally manufactured rocket launchers like the RL-21 (copy of BM-11) and RC-21 (copy of BM-21, similar to the Hadid HM20). The Helwan Machine Tools Company also produces portable systems with one, three, four and eight launch tubes.
Gaza Strip
Since 2006, Hamas and other armed organisations in the Gaza Strip have made use of 122mm Grad rockets and 122mm Grad-style copies made in Iran, and others have been Eastern-bloc editions modified to expand their range and lethality. The rockets were believed to be smuggled into the Gaza Strip via tunnels from Egypt. Some of the rockets were of a Chinese Grad variant. Hamas sources said they were pleased by the performance of the Chinese variants of the BM-21 Grad rocket, which demonstrated a far greater range and blast impact than Palestinian made rockets, as well as Russian-origin Grads or Katyushas.
On 28 February 2008 at least ten 122mm Grad rockets hit the coastal city of Ashkelon. In other incidents, longer range rockets were used, with twice that of the BM-21 Grad. These longer range rockets were erroneously reported by the media to be also Grad rockets.
In the 2010 terrorist attacks on Eilat and Aqaba, nine standard 122mm Grad rockets were used. For the most part, rockets are smuggled into the Gaza Strip through the network of tunnels between the Strip and Egypt.
On 23 February 2011 at least two 122mm Grad rockets were fired at Beersheba hitting and severely damaging a house in a residential area. On 23 March 2011 another two Grad rockets were fired at Beersheba, seriously injuring a civilian.
Hamas have used small man-portable single-tube launchers for rocket in attacks against Israel, designated 122 mm 9P132/BM-21-P. The 122 mm Grad rockets used by these groups in Gaza have a range of about 40 km (25 mi), and can reach the Israeli towns of Ashdod, Beer-Sheva, Ofakim, Gedera, Kiryat Gat, Ashqelon, Sderot, Rehovot, Kiryat Malachi and Gan Yavne.
Iran
D.I.O. from Iran produces copies of the BM-11 and BM-21 systems that can fire the original Soviet rockets as well as the locally developed "Arash" with a range of 20.5 km (12.7 mi). There is also a rocket with a range of 75 km (47 mi).
HM20 - This is the Iranian version of the BM-21, mounted on a Mercedes-Benz 2624 6x6 truck. The launch pack however consists of 2 packs of 20 tubes. Reportedly there is also a version with an automatic reload-system.
HM23 - Lighter 16-round version with two packs of 8 launch tubes.
HMxx - Iranian version of the 30-round BM-11, based on a Mercedes-Benz LA 911B 4x4 truck. Some vehicles are equipped with a light hydraulic crane.
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