The IDF struck numerous targets belonging to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terror group in Syria and throughout the Gaza Strip following rocket fire towards southern Israel over the course of Sunday evening. The military said that Israeli Air Force fighter jets struck PIJ targets south of the capital of Damascus, including a compound which was “used as a hub of Islamic Jihad’s activity in Syria” as well as dozens of terror targets belonging to the group across in the Strip. Palestinian media said that two PIJ operatives were killed in the strike, as Walla reported. According to the IDF, the strike against the PIJ compound in the area of Al Adleyeh, south of Damascus, targeted a site where the group conducts research and development of weapons, both by adapting them to manufacturing in the Gaza Strip, as well as for local manufacturing in Syria. At the site, the group also manufactured dozens of kilograms of AP – a modern fuel used in solid-propellant rockets. It also served as a technical training camp for terror operatives from the Gaza Strip and from the north. Dozens of PIJ terrorist targets were also struck by IAF jets, including underground infrastructures and compounds in the area of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip which were used to store raw materials used to produce rockets. In Khan Yunis, Israel struck the headquarters of the group’s Khan Yunis Brigade which included a compound for training with anti-tank missiles as well as military equipment used by the group’s naval commando force. In Beit Lahia, a military training compound of the Islamic Jihad was targeted. “The attacks were carried out in response to the attempted terror attack this morning on the perimeter fence and the launching of rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory,” the military statement read. “The IDF will respond to any terror acts of the Islamic Jihad that endanger Israeli civilians and harm its sovereignty. The IDF views the rocket attack towards Israeli territory with great severity, is prepared and will continue operating as necessary against attempts to harm Israeli civilians.” Over 25 rockets were launched towards southern Israel in several barrages on Sunday evening. The IDF confirmed that it had struck a PIJ terror cell preparing to launch rockets from the northern part of the Strip. Palestinians reported that there were at least four injured in the strike. “At this time, the IDF is striking terror sites belonging to the PIJ terror group in the Gaza Strip,” the military said at the time, adding that it would provide more information about the targets in the future. Hamas and PIJ had earlier threatened to avenge the death of a terrorist by the IDF after he tried to plant explosives along the Gaza border fence early Sunday morning. Video from the scene uploaded to social media on Sunday morning showed a crowd of Palestinian youth throwing stones towards an Israeli bulldozer sent to retrieve the body of the dead suspect. He was identified as 27 year-old Muhammed Ali al-Na’im, a commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s military wing, the Al-Quds Brigade, in the Khan Younis area.
Source
Comments are closed.