Air raid comes in response to Kassam attack; Palestinians say several hurt.
By JPOST.COM STAFFiaf white phosphorus airstrike gaza beautiful 311(photo credit: BLOOMBERG)
Following a Kassam rocket attack on southern Israel, the IAF bombed targets in the Gaza Strip overnight Thursday, hitting an arms smuggling tunnel in Rafah and a weapons factory in Khan Yunis.The military said the attack was conducted by the air force in cooperation with the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), and that the aircraft returned to their bases unharmed.Palestinian sources reported several casualties, although their conditions were unclear. The sources claimed a medicine factory was damaged in the attack.The IDF said the attack came in response to a Kassam rocket attack on the Eshkol region earlier Thursday. The rocket damaged a building but caused no casualties.“The IDF will continue to respond harshly to any any attempt to disrupt the calm in southern Israel,” a statement issued by the IDF Spokesperson said.Meanwhile, following a security assessment, Defense Minister Ehud Barakdecided to impose a general closure on the West Bank, beginning atmidnight Thursday and continuing until midnight Saturday.The decision comes amid concerns of more Arab rioting over Israel’s decision to include Hebron’s Cave of the Patriarchs and Bethlehem’s Rachel’s Tomb on its national heritage list.However, travel to and from the territories will be permitted for humanitarian purposes.
