Israeli fighter jets target southern Gaza after security fence damaged

JERUSALEM, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Israeli fighter jets struck a target in a military compound belonging to the Hamas in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip on Saturday night, said the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on Sunday.

The airstrikes took place hours after the security fence was damaged by four Palestinians and they attempted to arson an engineering vehicle, said the Israeli army.

The four fled back to the Gaza Strip after an Israeli troops approached. There were no casualties and only minor damage was caused to the heavy equipment, according to the Israeli army.

This is one of many severe incidents that have taken place in the security fence area, said the Israeli military.

IDF spokesman said the IDF views any attempt to harm Israeli security infrastructure and the security fence with great severity as well as any violation of Israeli sovereignty above and below ground.

The Israeli army holds that Hamas is accountable for all occurrences in and from the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, the IDF warned against incidents in which residents of the Gaza Strip are called to join "riots" that serve to conceal attempts to harm security infrastructure and attempts to harm Israeli civilians or IDF troops.

The IDF will continue to thwart all attempts to harm the State of Israel and will respond severely against those who wish to harm Israeli civilians, said the Israeli army.

Since last year, the IDF has been working full-steam to complete the security barrier with censors, which is specifically designed to prevent the border-crossing attack tunnels. Once completed, the short chain-link fence that currently surrounds Gaza will be replaced. Enditem