World Jewish News

Israeli warplanes striking Gaza during Israel's offensive in January 2009. Photo by AP.

Israel jets strikeIsrael jets strike Gaza in response to Qassam attack

Israel Air Force fighter jets bombed targets in the southern and northern parts of the Gaza Strip early Thursday morning, in what the Israel Defense Forces say was a response to the launching of a Qassam rocket earlier this week.
The Israeli warplanes, according to the IDF Spokesman's Office, struck what two tunnels targets in Gaza's south, as well one in the north.
Gaza militants fired a Qassam rocket into Israel on Wednesday, causing no casualties or damage. The rocket exploded in an open area in the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council.
The IDF said that the tunnel struck on Thursday had been dug a kilometer away from Gaza's border with Israel, and intended to be used in an infiltration as well as a possible terror attack against Israeli citizens and soldiers.
A spokesman said that the strike came as "a response to the rocket fire at the Eshkol region on the previous day," adding that the IDF considered "the Hamas terror organization as responsible for the doings in the Gaza Strip."
"The IDF will not tolerate any attempt to harm Israeli citizens and soldiers and will continue to act severely and determinately against any group which attempts to terrorize the State of Israel," the spokesman said.
The last rocket attack occurred 10 days ago, where a Qassam exploded in an open area in the Ashkelon region of the Negev. The Israel Air Force bombed two targets in southern Gaza in retaliation for the rocket attack.
Last month, two Katyusha rockets were fired at the southern port city of Eilat, one landing in an open area in the Jordanian city of Aqaba, and the second landed in the Eilat port, causing no casualties.

Haaretz.com