The Israeli Air Force confirmed direct hits on three Gaza rocket launchers on Thursday evening after a Qassam rocket fired from the territory struck Israel.
“In response to rocket fire towards Israel, an IAF aircraft targeted a terror infrastructure site in the central Gaza Strip and three concealed rocket launchers in the northern Gaza Strip,” the IDF said in a statement.
The rocket, which the IDF said was the first directed against Israel in 2014, exploded in an open area in the Sdot Negev Regional Council, Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot reported. On Monday another Gaza rocket struck Israel’s Shaar Hanegev Regional Council. No injuries or damage were reported in either of the strikes.
“In 2013 over 36 rockets launched from Gaza landed in Israeli territory, and 3 were intercepted by the Iron Dome Missile Defense System,” the IDF said.
The escalation came as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Israel to push the current ongoing peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority forward.
The IDF has consistently said that it holds terror group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, responsible for all terror attacks against Israel emanating from within the coastal enclave.
“We will strike those who open fire and strike those who advocate them. No one will be immune,” Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu pledged last week.