Israel strikes Gaza 'terror infrastructure'
June 7, 2015
Israeli forces launched airstrikes on facilities believed to be storing munitions for the militant Salafist group Omar Brigades.
The attack targeted the group's "terror infrastructure" after they claimed responsibility for launching rockets into Israel.
A rocket launched from the Hamas-run strip struck an open area south of the port of Ashkelon on Sunday night. No casualties were reported.
It was the third rocket launch in two weeks.
'Indiscriminate rocket fire'
The Israeli government closed the Erez and Kerem Salom border crossings due to security concerns.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) blamed Hamas for undermining the country's security.
"Israelis and Palestinians deserve to live normal lives, but instead Hamas chooses to use the Gaza Strop as a launching pad for rocket attacks," said IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Peter Lerner.
"The IDF will act against the aggression, will against those who wish to terrorize Israel and will act to protect Israelis in the line of indiscriminate rocket fire from Gaza," Lerner added.
Hamas has been criticized by the international community for not containing militant groups within the strip.
The Omar Brigades said in a statement that the rocket attacks on Israel were a reminder to Hamas that Israel was "the enemy," reported German news agency DPA.
Militant Salafist groups such as the Omar Brigades have emerged as an oppositional force to Hamas' rule in Gaza.
ls/bw (AP, dpa, Reuters)