Aftermath of IAF strike in Gaza (archive)
Aftermath of IAF strike in Gaza (archive)Reuters

Aircraft belonging to the Israeli Air Force (IAF) struck targets in Gaza on Saturday night, in retaliation for several rocket attacks on southern Israel.

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said in a statement that the aircraft targeted five terror sites, four of them in northern Gaza and an additional location in southern Gaza.

Direct hits were confirmed, the statement said..

“The retaliation this evening at Gaza terrorist aggression was precision, and intelligence based,” said IDF Spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner.

“It is our obligation to seek out those that wish to attack us, eliminate their capabilities and pursue them wherever they hide. Hamas rocket terrorism is an intolerable reality Israelis should not have to accept,” he added.

On Saturday afternoon, terrorists in Gaza fired a rocket towards Israel. The rocket exploded in the Ashkelon Regional Council area, in open fields.

There were no physical injuries or damage reported from the attack.

On Friday, a rocket was fired at the Asheklon region, causing no damages.

On Thursday, four Kassam rockets struck the area around Sderot, again landing in open fields and causing no injuries or damage. The IAF responded with an airstrike on several terror targets in Gaza.

The IDF statement said that since last month, approximately 131 rockets were launched from Gaza at Israel, out of which 82 rockets hit southern Israel. These figures include the massive rocket attack that took place between March 12-March 14, when a barrage of 70 rockets hit southern Israel, and five additional rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system.