Abandoned building hit by rocket Thursday
Photo: Barel Efraim
IDF strikes targets in Strip
In response to rocket fired at Eshkol Regional Council, Israeli jets strikes smuggling tunnel, weapons lab in southern Strip. Gaza eyewitnesses tell AFP several people injured
Israeli aircraft struck an arms smuggling tunnel and a weapons lab in the southern Gaza Strip Friday night. The IDF Spokesperson's Unit said that exact hits were identified and that all its jets returned safely to their bases.
Eyewitnesses in Gaza told the AFP that several people were injured in the strike, but no information on their condition was given.
The IDF said the strike came in response to a rocket fired at Eshkol Regional Council on Thursday, and stressed that attacks on Israeli territory would not be tolerated. "The IDF continues to act severely against any attempt to break the calm in Israel's communities and in southern Israel."
The Qassam rocket which was fired at Eshkol Regional Council hit an abandoned building. No on was injured, but damage was caused to the building.
The Ansar al-Sunnah Brigades, a Palestinians organization affiliated with al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the attack. The building that was hit is located mere meters from residents' homes.
Later Thursday, two more rockets were launched from the Strip, but landed in Palestinian territory near the border fence.
Thursday's attacks come after a month of relative calm. The last time a rocket was fired on Israel before Thursday was on February 12. The rocket landed in an open area between Shaar Hanegev Regional Council and the Ashkelon Coast Regional Council. No on was injured and no damage was caused.
