IDF says preparing for rocket fire in coming hours, has hit Islamic Jihad launch sites

Over the past hour, the Israel Defense Forces identified movement of Palestinian Islamic Jihad members preparing rockets to be launched, and therefore carried out a series of airstrikes against launch sites, military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari tells reporters.

The first strike, using a drone, was carried out against a squad of Islamic Jihad members heading to a launch site, Hagari says.

“Now we have started airstrikes against underground launchers… we should expect rocket fire in the next few hours,” he says.

Hagari says the IDF will hold an assessment later to decide on whether restrictions on movement and gathering for residents living up to 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Gaza will remain in place.

“We are acting in a responsible manner, so are the residents, and we expect that we will continue this way and prevent the enemy from making any gains,” he says.

Hagari stresses that the military’s operation, dubbed Shield and Arrow, is solely focused on Islamic Jihad, “which undermines the security situation in Gaza and [the West Bank].”

“We are still in the middle of the campaign, it is not over and has not been concluded,” he adds.

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— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) May 10, 2023