Israeli forces unleashed a hurl of warplane attacks against 29 different Palestinian sites in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, an apparent retaliation for the rocket strikes that were thrown at the Jewish nation a few hours earlier.
The warplanes struck bases used by Hamas rulers and by the Al-Quds Brigades, the fighting wing of Islamic Jihad and the same force that claimed responsibility for the earlier attack against Israel, Agence France-Presse reported.
“In response to the massive rocket attack that hit Israel earlier this evening, the Israel Air Force targeted 29 terror sites in the Gaza Strip,” a statement from Israel’s army said, AFP reported. “Direct hits were confirmed.”
Military officials said they located remains of 60 of their rockets — five of which struck areas of the strip that were populated.
“This retaliation was precise and prompt,” Lt. Col. Peter Lemer said, in the statement reported by AFP. “We targeted the infrastructure that serves the terrorists while they train, plan and implement their hideous attacks. They will not be permitted to conspire in the safety of their terrorist temples.”
Al Quds claimed its earlier attack against Israel — which included 90 rockets at select sites — came in retaliation to an Israeli air strike that left three of its militants dead, AFP said.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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