Rocket Alert Sirens Heard in Southern Israel Near the Gaza Strip - Report

Air attack sirens went off in the southern region of Israel bordering the Gaza Strip on Friday evening, a day after a registered rocket attack from Gaza.

"One launch has been detected from the Gaza Strip in the direction of Israel," the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Friday.

There have been no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

Later IDF said on Twitter that Israeli fighter jets conducted airstrike on several Hamas targets in Gaza.

On 7 March Israel activated its missile defence systems after the registered rocket launch from the Gaza Strip on Israeli territory. "The missile defence system was after the launch," the military said in a statement. The Thursday's shelling did not result in any material damage or casualties.

Israeli Military Says Used Missile Defences After Rocket Launch From Gaza

7 March 2019, 03:15 GMT

Tensions between the Israelis and the Palestinians near the Gaza border have been mounting since last March, which marked the beginning of the Great March of Return. Moreover, in fall, the situation on the Gaza border escalated due to continued shelling and launches of arson balloons from Gaza into the Israeli territory. Over 220 Palestinians, including children and media workers, have been killed by Israeli troops since then.

The Israeli authorities have been blaming Hamas for Gaza residents’ aggressive actions toward Israel.