Israel strikes Gaza after rocket fire
IDF says two direct hits on ‘terror sites’; no injuries or damage in Israel after rocket falls in open area
Israeli planes hit two sites in the Gaza Strip early Sunday morning, hours after a rocket was fired at southern Israel.
The Israel Air Force hit two “terror sites” in the southern and central Gaza Strip, according to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson’s Unit.
Just before midnight Saturday night, a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip exploded in the Shaar Hanegev region, close to Israel’s border with the Hamas-run territory.
No injuries or damage were reported. Moments earlier, red alert sirens sounded in the areas of southern Israel adjacent to the Gaza Strip.
“The sites attacked this evening are part of the terrorist support network, enhancing terror capabilities against Israel and it [sic] civilians,” IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said in a statement. “As long as Hamas enables its henchmen to attack Israel, these sites will not be immune from our watchful eye and operational strike, while they are used to formulate, train and develop malicious terrorist intentions.”
There were no immediate reports of injuries from the Gaza Strip.
The last week has seen an uptick on rocket attacks out of Gaza, after a lull for over a year following Israel’s eight day engagement with Gaza in November 2012.
Israel saw a large volley of rocket fire late Wednesday night, with eight missiles being shot at the coastal city of Ashkelon; five of them were shot down by the Iron Dome anti-missile system and three landed in open areas.
Israeli officials have vowed to respond forcefully to attacks out of Gaza.
The Times of Israel Community.