The IDF reported that the cell was involved in many Kassam rocket attacks, including the five rockets fired at the Jewish town of Sderot on Thursday. The fifth rocket hit an electric power line in the evening, leaving the Jewish town in darkness. Power was gradually restored to the city over the next several hours.
The car carrying the terrorists was laden with Kassam rockets. The cell was on its way to launching them at Jewish targets when it was liquidated. Among the three dead is the commander of a northern Gaza branch of the Al-Kassam Brigades, Imad Al-Makusi, 32.
The Air Force refused to reveal what type of aircraft or rocket was used in the operation.
In a counter-terror aerial attack Thursday night, the IDF targeted a weaponry manufacturing facility in Sajaiya, in southern Gaza. The weapons factory was located in the home of Ashraf Faruna, a senior Hamas terrorist. According to the IDF spokesman, Faruna was involved in numerous attacks as well as the manufacturing and distribution of weapons to terrorist cells. The PA claimed that several people were killed in the offensive; the IDF was unable to confirm or deny the claim.
The IDF spokesman noted that prior to the offensive, the IDF warned the population not to stay in structures that are used by terrorist organizations for storing weaponry. A statement from the IDF read: "Terrorist organizations operate from within civilian populations, while cynically exploiting uninvolved civilians and using them as human shields, exploiting their homes to store weaponry and launching rockets at Israeli towns from populated areas."
Hamas warned Israel that it would "painfully avenge" the recent deaths, and says it has "surprises" for Israel if the IDF tries to invade Gaza. "The enemy entangles itself when it merely infiltrates a few meters into Gaza," a Hamas spokesman said, "so what will happen if it infiltrates into all of the Gaza Strip?!"
Israeli officials have often responded to such threats by saying that Hamas attacks Israel whether it has an excuse or not. Israel officials confirm, however, that Hamas is arming itself at an alarming rate, with the help of smuggling routes from Egypt.
The car carrying the terrorists was laden with Kassam rockets. The cell was on its way to launching them at Jewish targets when it was liquidated. Among the three dead is the commander of a northern Gaza branch of the Al-Kassam Brigades, Imad Al-Makusi, 32.
The Air Force refused to reveal what type of aircraft or rocket was used in the operation.
In a counter-terror aerial attack Thursday night, the IDF targeted a weaponry manufacturing facility in Sajaiya, in southern Gaza. The weapons factory was located in the home of Ashraf Faruna, a senior Hamas terrorist. According to the IDF spokesman, Faruna was involved in numerous attacks as well as the manufacturing and distribution of weapons to terrorist cells. The PA claimed that several people were killed in the offensive; the IDF was unable to confirm or deny the claim.
The IDF spokesman noted that prior to the offensive, the IDF warned the population not to stay in structures that are used by terrorist organizations for storing weaponry. A statement from the IDF read: "Terrorist organizations operate from within civilian populations, while cynically exploiting uninvolved civilians and using them as human shields, exploiting their homes to store weaponry and launching rockets at Israeli towns from populated areas."
Hamas warned Israel that it would "painfully avenge" the recent deaths, and says it has "surprises" for Israel if the IDF tries to invade Gaza. "The enemy entangles itself when it merely infiltrates a few meters into Gaza," a Hamas spokesman said, "so what will happen if it infiltrates into all of the Gaza Strip?!"
Israeli officials have often responded to such threats by saying that Hamas attacks Israel whether it has an excuse or not. Israel officials confirm, however, that Hamas is arming itself at an alarming rate, with the help of smuggling routes from Egypt.