4 rockets fired at Israel; IAF strikes Gaza targets
No damage or injuries reported; 17 total rockets fired from Gaza in 24 hours; IDF top brass summoned to discuss response.
By JPOST.COM STAFFKassam rockets being fired from the Gaza Strip 311 (R)(photo credit: Nikola Solic / Reuters)
Terrorists fired four rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel Saturday morning, Army Radio reported. Two rockets exploded in an open area of the Ashkelon Coast Regional Council after two earlier rockets were fired into the Eshkol Regional Council area .The latest attacks bring the total number of rockets fired in the past 24 hours to 17. No injuries or damages were reported.RELATED:Hamas to Egypt: Pressure Israel over Gaza strikes IAF strikes tunnel used to infiltrate into Israel'Egypt working to restore Gaza, Israel calm'Responding to a series of rockets fired into Israel on Friday, the Israel Air Force struck targets associated with terrorist activity in the Gaza Strip earlier Saturday morning, the IDF Spokesman's Office said in a statement.The IAF reported direct hits on its targets, reiterating in the statement that it holds Hamas responsible for all terror activity emanating from Gaza and it will continue to respond forcefully to attacks on Israeli citizens.Thirteen rockets were fired into Israel on Friday, according to Army Radio. No injuries or damages were reported.According to Army Radio, defense officials believe that Hamas and Islamic Jihad are not behind the attacks from Gaza. Instead, smaller terrorist groups are likely firing rockets at southern communities in Israel.IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz summoned the IDF top brass on Friday night to discuss a response to the spike in rocket attacks.Deputy Chief of General Staff Maj.-Gen. Yair Naveh, OC Southern Command Maj.-Gen. Tal Russo, senior Israeli Air Force and Israel Navy officers were among the attending officers at the meeting.The IAF struck targets connected with terrorist activity on Friday night as well, recording direct hits on a center of terrorist activity in southern Gaza, as well as an additional terror target in northern Gaza.
According to Army Radio, five Palestinians have been killed in the raids.
The IDF said that it regretted any harm to uninvolved civilians, which it said was caused by the presence of explosives and weapons at the targeted sites, including rockets. The airstrikes, the IDF Spokesman said in a statement, were accurate and direct hits on terror targets were recorded.The IDF laid responsibility for the casualties on Hamas, "which chooses to operate in the heart of civilian population centers and uses human shields."Yaakov Lappin contributed to this report.
