IDF Hits Gaza Terror Targets in Response to Mortar Attack, Israel ‘Not Looking to Escalate’

Pictured Above: Terrorists from the Iranian-linked Palestinian Islamic Jihad group (flag pictured) fired 12 mortar shells at an Israeli military post on Thursday afternoon. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

(JNS.org) The IDF carried out artillery and air strikes in the Gaza Strip on Thursday in retaliation for a dozen mortar strikes on Israeli territory. 

According to the IDF, Israeli tanks and aircraft targeted four of the Hamas terror group’s military posts in northern Gaza and two military posts in central Gaza in response to the mortar fire. 

“We’re not looking to escalate the situation, our mission is to defend Israel. This is yet another violation of Israeli sovereignty by terrorist organizations from Gaza,” IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said in a statement. 

Terrorists from the Iranian-linked Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) group fired 12 mortar shells at an Israeli military post on Thursday afternoon. The IDF said the attack appeared to come in retaliation for the military’s destruction of a PIJ attack tunnel under the Israel-Gaza border in October.

Thursday’s mortar attack resulted in light infrastructure damage and no injuries, the IDF stated. Despite the fact that PIJ carried out the attack, Israel said it holds Gaza-ruling Hamas responsible for any hostile activity emanating from the coastal territory.