Israel strikes Gaza Strip after rocket fire

By Mohamed Majed and Hani al-Shaer

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) - Israeli warplanes launched several airstrikes early Saturday across the blockaded Gaza Strip after rockets were fired from the Palestinian territory.

Israeli Army spokesman Peter Lerner said the strikes were a reaction to an attack on the southern city of Sderot late Friday.

“In response to the rocket attack that hit Sderot last night IAF [Israeli Air Force] targeted four sites in Gaza, components of Hamas’ operational infrastructure,” he said on Twitter.

According to Palestinian security sources and eyewitnesses who spoke on condition of anonymity, Israeli planes struck two Hamas sites in southern Gaza City.

The strikes also hit waste ground near a base of Hamas’ Ezzeddin al-Qassam Brigades and farmland near a site of Islamic Jihad’s Saraya al-Quds Brigades, the same sources said.

A workshop and a farm were in southern and northern Gaza were also struck.

No casualties were reported, a medical source said on condition of anonymity.

* Mahmoud Barakat contributed to this report from Ankara.