Israeli Jets Hit Gaza Targets After Militants Fire Projectiles Over Border Military compounds, munitions warehouses and a tunnel are struck, officials say, as tensions escalate By Felicia Schwartz and Dov Lieber
https://www.wsj.com/articles/gaza-militants-fire-mortars-into-israel-1527591761
TEL AVIV—Israeli jets launched airstrikes against targets in Gaza in response to militants firing mortar shells and rockets into the country, ramping up tensions after weeks of deadly clashes at the border fence.
More than 60 targets were hit in total in two waves of airstrikes, including a munitions manufacturing site, military compounds, munitions warehouses and a tunnel that extended into its territory, which belonged to Gaza ruler Hamas and militant group Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Israeli military said.
The Israeli strikes came as militants in Gaza fired mortar shells and rockets into Israel through the day, setting off sirens in several border towns that continued late into the night, in what Israel’s military called the largest such attacks from the Palestinian territory since the 50-day war known as Operation Protective Edge in 2014.
“We are the closest to war we have been since Operation Protective Edge.…If a war breaks out that we are not interested in and that they aren’t interested in—it depends solely on them,” Israeli Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz told Army Radio.
The Israeli military said late Tuesday that militants in Gaza launched a total of about 70 mortars and rockets into Israel in several barrages by 8 p.m. local time, including some that were Iranian made.
Three Israeli soldiers were injured and were receiving medical treatment, but the Iron Dome defense system intercepted most of the projectiles, the Israeli military said. One of the mortar shells from the morning volley landed in the playground of a kindergarten before children arrived and no one was injured, it said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which Israel says is backed by Iran, for the attacks.
Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s armed wings issued a joint statement claiming responsibility for the attacks on Israel. They said the attacks were a response to Israel’s recent attacks that have killed Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants as well as for violent clashes during recent protests.
The groups faulted Israel for this week’s violence, citing events “48 hours ago.” and said they won’t “not let the enemy impose a new equation killing our people for free.”
Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, on Tuesday called for an emergency Security Council meeting to respond to attacks on Israel from Gaza. CONTINUE AT SITE
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