World Jewish News
IAF strikes in Gaza Photo: REUTERS/Darren Whiteside
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IAF strikes targets in Gaza Strip in response to mortar fire
19.11.2013, Israel The Israel Air Force struck four terror targets in Gaza on Tuesday evening in response to Palestinian mortar fire earlier in the day at soldiers in the Eshkol region of southern Israel.
The IDF said it hit a weapons manufacturing site and two attack tunnels in southern Gaza, and a fourth terrorist activity center in the north of the Strip.
"This is in response to the projectile fire on our forces who were working near the [border] fence this morning," the IDF Spokesman Unit said in a statement. It added that the military will not tolerate any attempt to harm civilians or IDF soldiers, and will act against any element seeking to activate terrorism against the state of Israel.
"The terror organization of Hamas is the address, and it bears responsibility," the statement added, referring to the ruling Hamas regime in the enclave.
No injuries or damage were reported in the mortar attack Tuesday morning.
IDF soldiers were operating in the Eshkol area where the mortar shell landed near the Gaza border fence.
Meanwhile on Tuesday, a Palestinian terrorist was killed and four others were injured in an accidental explosion in Gaza City, the Palestinian Ma'an news agency reported.
Ma'an quoted security sources in Gaza as saying the explosion was accidental and not the result of an Israeli strike.
Tuesday's events came after the air force bombed two underground rocket launchers in northern Gaza last Thursday, in response to a mortar attack on southern Israel earlier in the day.
Palestinians did not report any injuries or damage in the strikes.
The Palestinian attack and IAF reply occurred a year to the day that Israel launched the week-long Operation Pillar of Defense, which began with the targeted assassination of Hamas military wing head Ahmed Jabari, and which was aimed at reducing Hamas rocket fire on southern Israeli communities.
By YAAKOV LAPPIN, JPOST.COM STAFF
JPost.com
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