The Israel Defense Forces struck three Hamas military positions in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday evening using drones, tanks and helicopters, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said.
The strike by a drone came in response to a firebombing of an IDF military post that set it alight. The Molotov cocktail attack occurred during a riot near Rafah, which the IDF said was a hotspot for border violence. The Hamas post hit in the drone strike was nearby.
Soon after, another position near Rafah and a post near the Karni Crossing were hit by an IDF tank and a helicopter gunship. The IDF said that there were riots at these points, which included gunfire directed at soldiers.
Terrorists had launched incendiary balloons earlier in the day. Emergency services confirmed that terrorist arson was the cause of a brush fire in the Shaar HaNegev Regional Council. Firefighters brought the fire under control.
Israeli forces have also been tackling the riots on Tuesday by employing anti-riot measures such as tear gas. Riots and violence have plagued the security barrier between Israel and Gaza for 12 days. Terrorists have repeatedly shot at and hurled explosives and Molotov cocktail at soldiers.
مراسل شهاب: شبان يشعلون الإطارات المطاطية "الكوشوك" شرق رفح جنوب قطاع غزة. pic.twitter.com/wQMZ45c7jW
— وكالة شهاب للأنباء (@ShehabAgency) September 26, 2023
תיעוד נוסף מהשריפה ליד כפר עזה@Itsik_zuarets pic.twitter.com/r538twrgNW
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) September 26, 2023
In response to the attacks, Israel has been striking Hamas military positions. On Friday, when one was destroyed by tank fire and another two by drone. Another unmanned post was struck by an IDF drone on Saturday night. On Sunday evening, two more Hamas positions were hit by drones in Bureij and Jabalya, and on Monday a drone strike took down a post from where a gunman shot at troops during a Karni crossing riot.