Air Force helicopters returns to skies
Air Force helicopters returns to skiesIsrael news photo: Flash 90

Hamas resumed its “quiet war” against Israel Saturday and fired a Kassam rocket on the Eshkol region, south of Ashkelon. The IDF responded in the middle of the night, hitting two terrorist sites.

No injuries were reported on either side, but the IDF caused damage in what the military said were “direct hits” from aircraft.

The status quo “tit-for-tat” policy remains intact, although IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz warned two weeks ago, “The recent rounds of escalation and the harm to both the lives and daily routine of residents of the south is leading to the IDF being asked to undertake a significant offensive in the Gaza Strip.”

After the retaliation on terror targets in central and southern Gaza, the IDF issued its standard statement, “The IDF will not tolerate any attempt to harm Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers, and will continue to operate with strength and determination against anyone who uses terror against the State of Israel. The Hamas terror organization is solely responsible for any terrorist activity emanating from the Gaza Strip.”

Despite Gantz’s sharp warning earlier this month, he added that the military will not let itself be dragged into a large-scale counter-offensive without careful planning.

“If we don’t have a choice, we’ll know how to operate in Gaza," he said at a Golani combat base.