Israel targets Hamas military positions in Gaza in response to rockets

An Israeli soldier stands guard in Hebron. EFE / Abed Al Hashlamoun / Archive

Jerusalem / Gaza, Jan 18 – Israel attacked military posts of the Islamist movement Hamas in Gaza this morning, in retaliation for the launch of two rockets from the strip towards the Israeli coast, near the city of Ashdod.

The projectiles did not sound the alarms, fell into the sea and did not cause injuries or material damage, according to local media.
In response, Army fighter jets bombed several Hamas targets in the enclave, “including tunneling posts,” a military spokesman said in a statement.
The attacks caused severe damage to two military installations of the Islamist organization in the south of the strip, but no injuries were reported, according to Gazans security sources.

Today’s incident marks the first rocket fire from the strip into Israel in just over three weeks, following a last such incident on December 25.
Israel often responds to this type of attack with retaliatory attacks against Hamas, which de facto controls the enclave, and whom it holds responsible for any incidents originating from within.

Gaza has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007, and on several occasions in recent years these actions have led to larger military escalations.
Last week, in another incident, the army also targeted Hamas military installations near the separation fence, in response to two rounds of firearm shots from the strip at Israeli military bulldozers.