Israeli war planes launched a series of airstrikes early Friday, hitting back at targets across the Gaza Strip hours after two rockets were fired at Tel Aviv for the first time since the 2014 war.
Israel didn't wait long at all before ordering a retaliatory strike against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, as the IDF unleashed blistering airstrikes on terror cells along the Gaza border. Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai urged the public to remain calm, but added that public bomb shelters would be opened shortly. All emergency response organizations in the Tel Aviv area increased their alertness following the incident.
Palestinian media reported that Hamas was evacuating military posts in Gaza in preparation for the Israeli response to the rockets. It also reported that the Egyptian delegation had left Gaza quickly after being instructed to evacuate by the IDF. There was no confirmation of the unsourced reports.
IDF launches airstrikes on Gaza targets after rockets fired at Tel Aviv
FROM THE TIMES OF ISRAEL: The strikes came after an urgent late night consultation between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defense chiefs in Tel Aviv. “Decisions were taken,” an Israeli official said without elaborating. Army Radio reported that a decision was made to hit dozens of targets.
Shortly after the strikes began the IDF issued a statement saying the “Hamas terror group
carried out the rocket fire.” Hamas has denied it was behind the move. Hamas-linked Al-Aqsa TV reported that Israeli aircraft fired two missiles at a target in the new port west of Khan Younis. It said that the aircraft then returned and attacked the same site 4 more times.
Israel Radio said the site was a base belonging to Hamas naval commandos. Palestinian media also reported multiple strikes on Gaza City and at a target in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza.
The Hamas-run health ministry said there were no immediate reports of casualties.
Shortly after the strikes started, warning sirens blared throughout the Eshkol Regional Council bordering the Gaza Strip. The army said sirens were triggered by a failed launch from Gaza.
Later, sirens again sounded in the Sha’ar Hanegev region. The army said Palestinians in Gaza fired two rockets into Israel and one of them was intercepted by the Iron Dome System.
“Following reports of sirens in the Sha’ar Hanegev region, two launches were identified from the Gaza Strip into Israel,” the army said, adding that one rocket was intercepted. No details were given on the second projectile and there were no reports of injuries or damage.
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