Ashdod residents see Iron Dome at work

Since the start of its Operation Pillar of Defence, launched after the killing of Hamas military chief Ahmed Jaabari in an air strike, the Israeli army says it has struck more than 1,100 targets in Gaza as militants have fired more than 800 rockets over the border. On Sunday, at least 125 rockets hit Israel, while scores more were intercepted in mid-flight by the Iron Dome defence system, the army said. Residents in the southern Israeli town of Ashdod rely heavily on the missile shield protection that kicks in whenever a rocket targets a populated area.