Israel fires on Hamas targets in Gaza in retaliation for rocket attack

Smoke trails are seen as a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip to Israel on May 5, 2019. (Photo by Hassan Jedi/Flash90)

The Israel Defence Forces launched airstrikes on Hamas targets in Gaza in response to two rockets fired from Gaza on southern Israel.

The airstrikes on what the IDF called “terror targets” came late Tuesday night and early Wednesday.

One of the rockets fired on the southern Israeli city of Sderot was intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defence system and a second landed in an open area. Another rocket was fired on Monday night from Gaza on Israel.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

“Hamas will bear the consequences for actions against Israeli civilians,” the IDF said.

“If someone in Gaza thinks that he can raise his head after Operation Black Belt, he is sorely mistaken. We will respond vigorously to any attack against us and we will continue to guard the security of Israel on all fronts,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said late Tuesday night.

Operation Black Belt refers to Israel’s air strikes earlier this month on Palestinian Islamic Jihad military infrastructure after the group fired 450 rockets at Israel from Gaza over two days in retaliation for Israel assassinating one of its leaders. A ceasefire went into effect between Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, as well as other terrorist groups in Gaza, nearly two weeks ago.