JERUSALEM (AP) Israeli aircraft struck a weapons-manufacturing
facility and two smuggling tunnels in the southern Gaza Strip on
Thursday, in response to recent rocket attacks on Israel, the
military said.
Palestinian security officials reported no injuries.
Israel went to war against militants in Hamas-ruled Gaza last
winter to quash eight years of rocket and mortar fire that
terrorized southern Israel and killed 18 civilians.
More than 1,400 Palestinians were killed in the war, and since
it ended on Jan. 18, the attacks have decreased sharply. According
to the military's count, 270 rockets and mortars have been fired at
Israel since the three-week offensive ended on Jan. 18, compared
with more than 3,300 in 2008.
But Israel says weapons and weapons-making components still
reach militants through tunnels under Gaza's border with Egypt. And
sporadic fire continues, including a rocket attack Wednesday that
caused no injuries.
The Israeli military said in a statement that it would ''respond
to any attempt to disrupt the calm in Israel's southern
communities.''
(Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)