IDF soldiers defending Israel at the Gaza border came under fire three times on Wednesday.

In the first incident, which occurred at approximately 9:30 in the morning, Palestinians shot a mortar shell at an IDF vehicle that was carrying out operational work at the border fence. In response to the surprise attack, an IDF tank returned fire at a Hamas position in the area, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Merely hours after the first attack, a second explosion was heard at Gaza’s northern border. A statement released from the IDF said the unit stationed in the area “returned fire into Gaza using tanks in response.”

The third attack occurred later in Wednesday afternoon when another IDF unit on the northern Gaza border heard shots fired in their direction. It was later confirmed that not one, but two mortar shells were fired at the troops. The Jerusalem Post reported that an IDF tank retaliated with heavy fire directed at a suspicious target within Gaza.

It is as of yet unknown which of the many terrorist factions operating inside Gaza is responsible for the onslaught of mortar shells.

The barrage of attacks came just hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a surprise visit to the Israel-Gaza border during which he met and spoke with members of the 51st battalion of the Golani Brigade, the IDF unit responsible for guarding the border.

During his visit, Netanyahu thanked the soldiers for their service, stating that unlike 70 years ago when the Jewish people were emerging from the ashes of the Holocaust, “Today we have a country and we have an army. We have the ability to defend ourselves on all fronts, both near and remote. What drives me is to secure the future of Israel and its people.”