Smuggling Tunnel, Rafah, Gaza Strip. Photo: Marius Arnesen.

Thursday night, Israeli Air Force aircraft targeted two smuggling tunnels in the southern Gaza Strip, as well as another four terror activity sites in the Gaza Strip. Direct hits were confirmed by an IDF statement.

This strike comes after weeks of contention between Palestinians and the IDF, following several months of calm. Israel fired on tunnels in Gaza earlier this week in response to Palestinian aggression over the weekend. The tunnels targeted by Israel are reportedly used to execute terror attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers.

Thursday’s strike was in direct response to five rockets that were fired at Israel’s southern communities on Wednesday. Another 15 rockets have been fired at the Israeli home front, causing structural damage, since the beginning of July.

Israeli authorities consistently charge Hamas, a recognized terrorist organization, solely responsible for attacks emanating from the Gaza Strip.