Israel responded to two separate rocket attacks on Friday night with an airstrike against Hamas in northern Gaza.
Sirens sounded around 9:00 pm as a rocket was fired from Gaza at the city of Sderot, landing inside the city and causing damage to a bus and a home. There were no physical injuries however several people were treated for shock. Though there have been a renewed series of missile attacks from Gaza, this is the first time a missile has landed inside an Israeli city since Operation Protective Edge ended one year ago.
At approximately 11:30 pm sirens sounded again as two rockets were fired from Gaza towards the city of Ashkelon. The Iron Dome anti-missile system succeeded in bringing down both missiles before they landed.
In response, the Israeli Air Force struck three targets in Northern Gaza, one against a base belonging to Hamas’ military wing, the Al Quassam Brigade. It was also reported that the Israeli Navy participated in the counter-strike. No injuries were reported. The Sheikh Omar Hadid Brigade , a Salafist group associated with ISIS, claimed credit for the rocket attack against Israel in defiance of Hamas.
The rocket attacks come during a time of intense clashes between Israeli security forces and Muslims on the Temple Mount.
