IDF strikes in Gaza
Week after two soldiers killed near Israel-Gaza border and few hours after Qassam hits south Israel, witnesses say IAF carried out at least five missile attacks on various targets
Israeli warplanes carried out at least five missile attacks on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip overnight Friday, Palestinian witnesses said. The IDF said exact hits of terror targets were identified.
Witnesses said four of the air strikes took place near the central town of Khan Younis, the site of a deadly clash last week between Israeli troops and Palestinian gunmen. The fifth air strike rocked Gaza City.
Major Eliraz Peretz, deputy commander of the Golani Brigade's 12th Battalion and resident of the settlement of Eli, and Staff-Sergeant Ilan Sviatkovsky of Rishon Lezion were killed in that incident.
Child hurt in one of the attacks (Photo: Reuters)
Following the clash a senior IDF official said the army would retaliate "at the appropriate time."
According to the Palestinian witnesses, one of the target's of Friday's assault was a group of armed lookouts near Beit Lahiya, located in the northern part of Gaza.
Another strike, they said, targeted a factory in Gaza City's Sabra neighborhood. Reuters reported that two children were injured from shrapnel and that serious damage was caused.
In addition, a number of missiles were fired towards open areas in the Khan Younis area, the Palestinians reported.
Israeli warplanes also targeted a metal workshop in central Gaza, they said.
According to the Palestinians, at least one missile was fired at a Hamas naval police outpost in Rafah.
Thursday evening saw a Qassam launched from northern Gaza explode in an open area within the Ashkelon Beach Regional Council's limits.
There were no reports of injury or damage in the rocket attack. The 'Color Red' rocket alert sounded before the Qassam hit.
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit confirmed a number of strikes were carried out against weapons labs.
"The assault comes in response to the rocket that was fired at the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council last night. The IDF will not tolerate any attempt to harm the citizens of the State of Israel or IDF soldiers and will continue to operate determinedly and forcefully against any element that operates terror against the State of Israel. The IDF holds the Hamas terror organization as solely responsible for the occurrences in the Gaza Strip and for maintaining quiet there," the IDF statement said.
