IDF attacks Gaza again after rocket fire

Israel struck Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip after rockets were fired towards southern communities on Tuesday night from the coastal enclave.

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said that that some of the targets in the two waves of airstrikes included Hamas underground military facilities as well as a weapons production facility, in response to two rockets that were fired towards the city of Sderot.

One of the rockets was intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system.

While sirens were activated, the Home Front Command reported a malfunction in the Red Alert system, with warnings not showing up on their mobile application. They later said that the system was back to being fully operational.

During the first wave of retaliatory strikes around midnight, additional sirens sounded in the Ashkelon Regional Council. The military said that the activation was not caused by rocket fire, but is believed to have been caused by anti-aircraft fire towards Israeli planes carrying out the retaliatory strikes.

The Ashkelon Municipality later said that no projectile had fallen in the city, following an inspection by security forces following the alarm.

On Wednesday morning, Defense Minister Naftali Bennett warned that Israel would respond to rocket fire whether or not any damage was caused.

"We deem a rocket that does not cause damage to be the same as a rocket that does," he said. “Those who fire will be hit.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that "we will respond firmly to any attack" and "we will continue to maintain Israel's security on all fronts.

"If anyone in Gaza thinks they can raise their head after Operation Black Belt, they are seriously mistaken," he added, referring to the last round of violence between Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in early November following the targeted assassination of one of the group’s commanders, Bahaa abu al-Ata.

Over 400 rockets were fired by the Iranian-backed terror group and dozens of PIJ targets were destroyed in IAF airstrikes during some 50 hours of fighting.

On November 15, two rockets were fired by Hamas from the Gaza Strip towards the city of Beersheba. On Monday, another rocket was fired towards southern Israel and fell in an open area, causing no damage or injuries.