The low-level spike in violence between Gaza and Israel continued Saturday night, as the Israel Air Force (IAF) bombed multiple targets associated with terrorism in the Strip. According to a press release posted on the IDF website, “direct hits were identified” on three weapon manufacturing facilities and two “terror tunnels.”
The airstrikes follow an infiltration attempt on Friday in which a gun-battle between a Palestinian terrorist and IDF soldiers resulted in the deaths of both the terrorist and an Israeli soldier. According to the IDF Spokesperson’s Twitter feed, the soldiers were called to the area due to the infiltration. Upon arriving at the scene, the terrorist opened fire.
The IDF Spokesperson’s Blog said the IDF response and subsequent killing of the terrorist prevented an attack on Israeli civilians. According to Twitter, the IDF soldier killed in action was 21-year-old Staff Sgt. Netanel Moshiashvili.
The IDF Blog said the IAF hit multiple terror-related targets in Gaza. The same day, the IAF hit a rocket-launching squad in Gaza after two rockets were fired at Israel.
The IDF website statement said the airstrikes on Saturday night were in response to Friday’s infiltration incident.
In the statement, the Israeli military said they “will continue to operate against anyone who uses terror against the residents of the State of Israel. The Hamas terror organization is solely responsible for any terrorist activity emanating from the Gaza Strip.”
The fighting is some of the most intense since a major escalation in March that saw hundreds of rockets fired at Israel from Gaza and multiple Israeli airstrikes on terror targets.
(By Staff, www.themideastupdate.com, June 3, 2012)