(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) Despite earlier Palestinian announcement of reaching an Egypt-brokered ceasefire agreement with Israel, the Israeli jetfighters carried out a series of airstrikes on cities in the besieged Gaza Strip Friday dawn
Palestinian local media reported that the Israeli air raids have targeted several sites belonging to the Palestinian resistance movements in northern and southern cities of the densely-populated territory
It added that there were no reports of human casualties so far as the targeted sites were evacuated an anticipation of the Israeli strikes since the eruption of the new bout of violence in the Strip. In a press statement, the Israel army said that the Israeli aircraft have bombarded four sites in the southern Gaza Strip and three additional sites in the northern Gaza Strip
It pointed out the strikes come in response to a barrage of 17 rockets which were fired from Gaza Strip at Southern Israeli cities Thursday, despite causing no human casualties
The army also revealed that the Iron Dome missiles-defense system was deployed in Beersheba and near Ashdod Thursday evening to stop grad rockets fired from Gaza Strip from reaching the populated cities
The Israeli airstrikes came despite the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement's announcement earlier Thursday of reaching an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire agreement with Israel. An announcement denied by Israeli military and political officials. Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, however, said Thursday that "quiet would be met with quiet" but he added "if provocations continue, we will know how to pound whoever needs to be pounded." The flare-up began on Tuesday when Israel forces killed three Islamic Jihad fighters in an airstrike on the Strip. In response, the Palestinian movement Islamic Jihad's launched a barrage of scores of rockets at southern Israel
Israel responded by hitting 29 targets across Gaza that night, including Islamic Jihad and Hamas bases. Another seven air strikes followed on Thursday morning with seven more Friday dawn. Neither side reported any casualties of the new tit-for-tat attacks.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.