Israel launches airstrike on Gaza in retaliation for rocket fired

Israel on Thursday launched an airstrike on Gaza in retaliation for a rocket fired from the enclave, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials.

An Israeli army spokesman said the airstrike targetted a Hamas weapons manufacture facility in central Gaza, after a rocket was fired from the strip on southern Israel, which caused no damage or injuries.

"The rocket attacks emanating from the Gaza Strip put Israeli civilians in harm's way and endangered entire communities," said Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner in a statement. "The IDF does not tolerate any attempt to undermine the security of Southern Israel. The Hamas terrorist organization is responsible for today's attack against Israel."

Security officials in Gaza said Israeli fighter jets fired at least two air-to-ground missiles. Witnesses in central Gaza said they heard two huge explosions.

The latest exchange of fire between Gazan militants and the Israeli army comes one year after Egypt brokered a truce agreement between both sides, ending 51 days of a military offensive on the enclave which killed 2,200 Palestinians.

Since the truce, there has been a series of tit-for-tat fire exchange and violation of the cease-fire agreement.

Since January, eight rockets have been fired from Gaza on Israel, the IDF statement said.

No one has claimed responsibility for the latest rocket firing from Gaza. Endit