Israeli soldiers near an Iron Dome anti-missile battery in the city of Sderot in southern Israel, August 9, 2018. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 JERUSALEM (JTA) — Three rockets were fired at southern Israel from Gaza.
Two of the rockets fired on Saturday night at the southern Israeli city of Sderot were shot down by the Iron Dome missile defense system. There were no reports of injury or damage.
The Israel Defense Forces launched retaliatory airstrikes on military targets of the Hamas terror organization, which controls Gaza, the IDF said in a statement.
Among the targets were a Hamas naval base, as well as weapons warehouses and watchtowers, according to the IDF. Two Palestinians were moderately injured in the airstrikes, the Palestinian WAFA news agency reported.
No Palestinian terror organization claimed responsibility for the attack, but Israel holds Hamas responsible for any attacks emanating from Gaza.
The rocket fire came a day after the renewal of weekly Palestinian protests on the Gaza border with Israel. Some 4,000 Palestinians took part in the Friday protests with some throwing rocks and explosives at the Israeli troops. The troops responded with anti-riot measures including tear gas and some live fire.
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