CBNNews.com - ASHDOD, Israel - Under the auspices of the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) Home Front Command, the port city of Ashdod held its first-ever emergency preparedness drill in preparation for Palestinian rocket attacks.

The drill, also held in Ashkelon, Kiryat Gat and Kiryat Malachi, all within a 10-mile radius of the Gaza Strip, focused on coordinating police and emergency rescue services in the event of a rocket attack on a school, hospital or mall.

In a briefing at Sunday's Cabinet meeting, Shin Bet (General Security Services) head Yuval Diskin said Palestinians have rockets that can reach cities outside the Gaza-vicinity communities that have been targeted up till now.

"The military wing of Hamas is prepared to continue military confrontation with Israel," Diskin told Cabinet ministers.

"It has improved its rocket-firing capability to long range and as of today, it is able to reach Kiryat Gat, Ashdod and even the outskirts of Beersheba," he said.

Beersheba municipality spokesman Amnon Yosef said the city was prepared for any eventuality.

"Beersheba maintains its bomb shelters year-round," Yosef said. "Together with the IDF Home Front Command, we can simulate all sorts of scenarios," he said.

Sources: Haaretz, The Jerusalem Post