UPDATE - Israel launches airstrikes in Gaza

ADDS DETAILS, HAMAS' RESPONSE

By Betul Yuruk

NEW YORK (AA) - The Israeli army launched airstrikes in Gaza early Friday in response to rocket fire from Lebanon.

''The IDF is currently striking in Gaza,'' the Israel Defense Forces said on Twitter.

In a statement, the Israeli army said it struck two tunnels in Beit Hanoun and Khan Yunis and two weapons factories in response to ''Hamas' security violations.''

There are no immediate reports of injuries from the strikes.

Reacting to the Israeli airstrikes, Hazem Kassem, a spokesman for the Palestinian resistance group Hamas, said that Israel ''bears full responsibility'' for the escalation and the aggression against Jerusalem and Gaza.

The group launched rockets from the Gaza Strip at Israel after the latest strikes.

The Israeli army also issued a warning on Twitter saying that sirens are sounding in southern Israel.

The unrest came after Israeli forces stormed the Al-Qibli Prayer Hall in the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem and forcibly removed Palestinian worshippers for two nights in a row.

The Israeli army on Thursday said that at least 30 rockets were fired from southern Lebanon toward Israel.

In a statement, the army said its Iron Dome air defense system intercepted 15 of the rockets fired from Lebanon toward northern Israel.

It also blamed Hamas for the rocket barrage from Lebanon.