Israel launches airstrikes against targets in Gaza Strip
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Israeli air force on Tuesday morning launched strikes against 34 targets in the Gaza Strip in response to rockets fired upon communities in southern Israel.
The airstrikes reportedly targeted Hamas and Islamic Jihad assets in the strip, the Jerusalem Post reported. Palestinian media sources reported at least four people wounded in the airstrikes and several power outages throughout the Gaza Strip, the Jerusalem Post reported, though there were no immediate reports of casualties.
Southern Israel has come under intermittent rocket fire since the Gaza Strip came under Hamas control in 2007.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Tuesday's airstrikes were a response to a barrage of 18 rockets fired into Israel since late Sunday, the IDF said.
"The IDF will continue to act in order to restore the peaceful living to the civilians of the state of Israel. The Hamas terror organization and its extensions are solely responsible for any terror activities emanating from the Gaza Strip," said Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, a military spokesman.
There were no further details on the targets, but in recent weeks Israel has repeatedly targeted launch sites and weapons storage areas in similar attacks.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Earlier Monday, the bodies of three Israeli teenagers who were kidnapped more than two weeks ago were discovered in the West Bank. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has held Hamas responsible for the kidnappings, vowed that the terrorist group "will pay" for the deaths.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.