Al-Qaeda linked group claims responsibility for rockets fired on Eilat

The Al Qaeda-linked jihadist group Ansar Bait Al-Maqdis, which translates as supporters of Jerusalem, issued a statement on Tuesday claiming responsibility for two rocket attacks against Eilat, the Dead Sea resort city in southern Israel. The Sinai-based group also criticised the Egyptian government for “working to preserve the security of Israel”.

Israel’s army said that two rockets fell on an uninhabited area near Eilat on Monday. No casualties or losses to properties were reported.

Ansar Bait Al-Maqdis has claimed responsibility for several deadly attacks in Egypt; most notably the suicide bomb attack in September against Egypt’s Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim and another suicide car bomb in December which left 15 people dead, mostly policemen, in the north of Egypt.