IDF intercepts Gaza rocket fired at south, retaliates with tank fire - Lilach Shoval, Daniel Siryoti, Nikki Guttman, Associated Press and Israel Hayom Staff

by Lilach Shoval, Daniel Siryoti, Nikki Guttman, Associated Press and Israel Hayom Staff 

Iron Dome defense system near the southern city of Ashkelon downs rocket fired by Gaza terrorists, IDF confirms • In retaliation, Israeli tanks shell a Hamas military position in northern Gaza Strip

Iron Done in action over Ashkelon, Monday

Photo: Ancho Gosh / JINI

Air raid sirens rattled the southern city of Ashkelon and the communities  nearby on Monday evening, alerting residents to incoming rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.

The IDF confirmed that the Iron Dome defense system in the area intercepted one rocket fired from Gaza at southern Israel. No injuries or damage were reported.

Shortly afterward, Israeli tanks responded by targeting a Hamas military position in the northern Gaza Strip, the military said. No injuries were reported.

Earlier Monday, the IDF shelled terror targets in Gaza after terrorists fired a rocket at southern Israel, in yet another in a series of cross-border exchanges since Friday.

Monday's strikes came a day after Israel said it destroyed a terror tunnel built by Hamas that ran several hundred meters into Israeli territory.

While Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, threatened Israel with a "heavy price" for demolishing the tunnel, Israeli defense officials said it was unlikely that the group would seek to provoke a fresh conflict with Israel.

Hamas has been working to restrain the rogue terrorist groups in the enclave, which often defy its orders and fire rockets at Israel, one defense official said.

The IDF stressed that it holds Hamas responsible for all that transpires in Gaza and that Israel will not tolerate sporadic rocket fire at its south and will react forcibly to any such incident.

Lilach Shoval, Daniel Siryoti, Nikki Guttman, Associated Press and Israel Hayom Staff

Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/2017/12/12/idf-intercepts-gaza-rocket-fired-at-south-retaliates-with-tank-fire/

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