Israeli Warplanes Strike Hamas Military Targets As Retaliation For Palestinian Rocket Fire
Israeli warplanes have struck Hamas military targets in the Gaza Strip after Palestinian militants fired rockets into Israel.
The Palestinian health ministry said at least 15 people were injured in Friday’s air strikes, which followed a day of violent clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli security forces over President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Two Palestinians were killed and dozens were wounded in skirmishes with Israeli troops in the West Bank and Gaza over the course of the day.
The Israeli military said in a statement that aircraft bombed a Hamas military training compound and an ammunition warehouse in response to two rocket launches at Israel.
Also Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepted one of the rockets fired same Friday at the Jewish state from the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army added in the statement.
“No injuries were reported,” the statement says.
It was the second such incident since US President Donald Trump’s statement on Wednesday recognising Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.
Shortly after the Israeli air strikes, a third rocket hit the Israeli town of Sderot, damaging vehicles.
His declaration sent shock waves through the region and Gaza’s Islamist Hamas rulers called for a new intifada, or Palestinian uprising.
On Thursday, Israel responded with air strikes and tank fire into Gaza after what a military statement described as “a projectile” was fired into southern Israel.
Palestinian security officials in the enclave said the sites hit were two Hamas posts.
The Israeli military said the targets were “two terror posts”, without identifying them, but said it held Hamas responsible for all attacks originating from the territory under its control