Israeli warplanes strike Gaza in response to rocket attacks

Gaza, Nov 15: Israeli warplanes struck two open lands on Thursday afternoon in Gaza city and in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, hours after militants from the Palestinian enclave fired rockets into the Jewish country.

The Israeli war jets struck the two farm lands with air-to-ground missiles, witnesses and Hamas security officials said. Hospital officials in Gaza City said that no injuries have been reported.

An Israeli army spokesperson said the warplanes targeted rocket launchers used for firing rockets on Israel, adding that the airstrike was a response to earlier rocket attacks from Gaza on southern Israel.

Attack in response to one year anniversary of Israel's operation

No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks on southern Israel yet, but security sources in Gaza said that two Islamic Jihad militants were detained by Hamas police for launching rockets on Israel.

Thursday's exchange of attacks came as Hamas armed wing, al-Qassam Brigades, was marking the one year anniversary of Israel's operation cloud pillar against Gaza.

Witnesses said that thousands of Hamas masked militants, wearing military uniform and carrying various kinds of weapons and rockets, paraded in Gaza city's main streets on the occasion.

IANS