IDF strikes targets in Gaza as rocket sirens sound in southern Israel

A rocket that was launched into Israel and intercepted by the Iron Dome; IDF follows up with strikes on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

 Palestinians protest at night time near the border with Israel, east of Gaza City, on August 28, 2021.  (photo credit: ATIA MOHAMMED/FLASH90)
Palestinians protest at night time near the border with Israel, east of Gaza City, on August 28, 2021.
(photo credit: ATIA MOHAMMED/FLASH90)

The IDF struck targets in the Gaza Strip early Monday morning in response to the firing of a rocket into Israel the night before. 

Rocket sirens went off in the Gaza border area communities of Kissufim and Ein Hashlosha after the rocket was fired and was intercepted by Iron Dome, according to the IDF Spokesperson's Unit. That rocket marked four days in a row that rockets were fired from the enclave into Israel, and the fifth rocket fired since the conclusion of Operation Guardians of the Wall in May.

Israeli forces struck four military outposts containing a number of Hamas assets. These included training complexes, weapons manufacturing and storage centers and a terrorist tunnel. Fighter planes later struck other targets after a rocket was fired.

Explosions were heard in the northern and southern parts of the Hamas-ruled Strip, with Palestinian media reports indicating a target had been struck in the southern city of Rafah.

Heavy machine-gun fire was directed at the Israeli aircraft around Rafah, according to Palestinian media.

Reports also indicated that targets near Beit Lahiya in the Strip's North had been hit by IDF fighter planes, as well as the nearby Ashkelon site being targeted by the Israel Navy.

The IDF also struck a Hamas site near the city of Khan Yunis as well as a target near the central Gaza city of Deir el-Balah, according to the Shehab news agency.

IDF fighter jets are seen carrying out airstrikes against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for rockets fired into Israel, on September 13, 2021. (Video credit: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

Videos of the bombings from Palestinian reports were shared on social media.

Some five residents of Sderot were lightly injured while running to shelters when the sirens sounded on Sunday night.


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Shortly beforehand, IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi warned that the IDF would "protect the Gaza border and will not accept any violation of [Israel's] sovereignty of any kind. We are vigorously attacking for every violation and we will continue to do so, and if they escalate, Hamas and the Gaza Strip will pay a heavy price."

The IDF also struck Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip on Saturday night after another rocket was fired from Gaza.

Sunday also marked the 16th anniversary of the completion of Israel's unilateral disengagement from the Gaza Strip in 2005.