By Rob Crilly, Senior U.S. Political Reporter For Dailymail.Com In Washington, D.C. and Associated Press , updated
Militants fired mortars at Israeli forces in Gaza as they prepared for the arrival of a floating U.S. Army pier, American officials said Thursday, an episode that highlights the risks of building a structure for humanitarian aid.
The 72-feet wide and 270-feet platform is designed to receive shipments of food and other aid transported from Cyprus from Cyprus.
Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon Press Secretary, said construction began Thursday and work was unaffected by the attack.
‘When it comes to the temporary pier and the causeway, those are being constructed offshore out at sea and … essentially nowhere near mortar range so that’s not what we’re talking about here,’ he told reporters.
‘You know, we’re aware of reports that a small number of mortars land landed in the vicinity of the marshalling yard area for …