Aftermath of mortar attack (archive)
Aftermath of mortar attack (archive)Israel news photo: Flash 90

Terrorists from the Hamas-controlled Gaza region struck the western Negev with another mortar attack Wednesday morning. Two shells exploded in an open area of the Eshkol Regional Council district. No damage was reported, and no one was injured.

The attack came hours after IAF warplanes bombed a Hamas training base in Gaza as a continuation of the government's policy of retaliating for every attack launched from Gaza.

Gaza terrorists have escalated their rocket and mortar fire in recent weeks, launching dozens of missiles and shells at Israeli civilians and soldiers in the western Negev. Several Israelis have been wounded.

Wednesday's air strike was launched in retaliation for a terror rocket attack on Jewish farm near Ashkelon on Tuesday. Several greenhouses were damaged in the attack, although residents escaped injury.

Just three days earlier – on Saturday – Gaza terrorists launched a rocket and mortar attack on Jewish communities in the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council district.

One woman suffered an anxiety attack during the barrage, but no physical damage or injuries was reported. The Color Red air raid siren, which generally gives a 15-second window of warning prior to an attack, was not heard before the explosion.

Two weeks ago, a rocket exploded close to a kindergarten on a kibbutz in the Gaza Belt region.