Armed Palestinian groups continued to fire a rocket barrage towards Israel early Wednesday, with rockets aimed at the cities of Ashkelon, Modiin, and Tel Aviv, according to local media reports.
As Hamas launched a massive barrage of rockets at the country's capital, according to the IDF, a massive explosion was heard near Tel Aviv. The cause of the explosion, however, is not clear at this time.
Multiple videos shared on social media appear to depict the Israeli air defence system in action. The Iron Dome system can ostensibly be seen intercepting multiple rockets over the city, as air raid sirens sound off in the background.
Reports citing Hamas' military arm have indicated that about 110 rockets were fired toward Israel and the nearby Ben Gurion International Airport over a short period of time. The city of Beersheba has also reportedly been hit by dozens of missiles.
Earlier in the day, the IDF released a video shot by an eyewitness showing extremely intense rocket fire and the operation of the Iron Dome interceptors over the evening sky of Tel Aviv.
So far, hundreds of explosions have been recorded across southern and central Israel, per media reports. Sirens could be heard in settlements near Gaza, Beersheba and Tel Aviv and its environs.
The recent barrage of rockets came only minutes after news that the IDF had destroyed a nine-storey building in Gaza City, in accordance with their statement that they were striking residential buildings because those were allegedly being used by Palestinian fighters.
The IDF said it has struck a number of targets in the Gaza Strip in the past few hours, and the strikes are ongoing.
The Iron Dome is a mobile all-weather air defence system intended to intercept and eliminate short-range rockets and artillery shells fired from distances of 4 to 70 kilometres that are aimed at Israeli-populated areas.