IDF strikes northern Gaza after rockets fired last night; battles ongoing in Khan Younis, center of Strip

The IDF says it struck an area in northern Gaza from which rockets were fired toward southern Israel last night, within minutes of the attack.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the rocket fire, which set off sirens in Zikim and Ashkelon’s southern industrial zone.

There were no injuries. Several more targets in the area, including rocket launchers and Hamas infrastructure, were also struck, the IDF says.

Meanwhile, in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis, the IDF says the 7th Armored Brigade killed several Hamas operatives and captured weapons over the past day.

The brigade also directed several airstrikes, which the IDF says killed at least eight operatives.

In central Gaza, the IDF says the Nahal Brigade killed some 20 gunmen over the past day, including by calling in airstrikes, and the Ghost Unit killed several more operatives using “innovative means.”

Nearby, in Gaza City’s Rimal Neighbourhood, the IDF says the 215th Artillery Regiment directed an airstrike against a three-man Hamas cell, and infrastructure used to launch rockets at Sderot on Thursday.