IDF Targets Rocket Launch Sites in Response to Attacks on Sderot and Ashkelon

By Yoni Weiss

The IDF carried out artillery fire and airstrikes on Thursday night, targeting locations from which rockets were launched towards Sderot, Kfar Azza, and Ashkelon, as confirmed by the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit on Friday morning.

Additionally, IDF forces destroyed a booby-trapped building in Khan Yunis using tank fire on the same day.

Over the course of Thursday, the IDF conducted airstrikes hitting more than 30 targets across Gaza.

In a series of attacks spanning just over 24 hours from Wednesday night to Thursday evening, terrorists in Gaza launched rockets at southern Israeli communities on seven occasions. Thursday night’s assault, which targeted Ashkelon, marked the first activation of rocket warning sirens in the city since Feb. 27.

Immediately following the attack, which also triggered alarms in Sderot, Ibim, Nir Am, Zikim, Karmia, and Ashkelon, the Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for firing the rockets. They also claimed responsibility for an earlier rocket attack on Netivot, which set off rocket alerts in Noam Industrial Zone, Beit HaGdi, Shibolim, Sharsheret, Zimrat, Shuva, Kfar Maimon, and Tushia.

Although the Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted most of the rockets, one rocket managed to land on a street in Sderot, causing damage but no injuries.

The last time alarms were activated in Netivot was on Jan. 16.