IAF aircraft strikes terror tunnel in northern Gaza

Airstrike comes after Kassam rockets fired from Strip hit Hof Ashkelon regional council; no injuries, damage reported in attack.

By OR SCHWARTZ
Apache helicopter 311 (photo credit: REUTERS)
Apache helicopter 311
(photo credit: REUTERS)
The Israel Air Force attacked a smuggling tunnel in the northern Gaza Strip overnight Saturday in response to rocket fire directed at Israeli communities enveloping the Hamas-controlled territory throughout the weekend.
Military spotters reported precise and accurate hits against the tunnel which was used for terrorist operations, the IDF spokesperson said in a statement.
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The IDF will not allow communities laying adjacent to Gaza to remain under fire and will act powerfully to prevent further attacks originating from the area, the spokesperson added.
The Hamas terror organization is viewed as directly responsible for the fire emanating from Gaza, the IDF said.
Prior to the IAF operation, three Kassam rockets were launched from the Strip. Two rockets struck open fields in the Hof Ashkelon regional council, located north of Gaza. Another rocket landed in Gazan territory.
No injuries or damage were reported in the attack.
On Thursday, an IDF soldier was lightly injured by an improvised explosive device that blew up near his tank while along the border with Gaza. The soldier was evacuated to Soroka University Medical Center in Beersheba with light shrapnel wounds.
The attack followed an IAF strike on a terror tunnel in northern Gaza overnight Tuesday. Gaza sources said there were no casualties. Earlier in the day, two Palestinians were killed after aircraft bombed a Global Jihad terror cell preparing to launch a rocket in central Gaza.
Yaakov Katz contributed to this report.