Israeli jets bombard Hamas positions in Gaza

Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli forces near the Israel-Gaza border east of the southern Gaza strip city of Khan Yunis on Dec. 29, 2017. (AFP/Said Khatib)

Jerusalem: Israeli jets bombarded Hamas bases in Gaza overnight in response to rocket fire from the Palestinian enclave, the military said Thursday.
“In response to the projectiles fired at southern Israeli communities throughout yesterday from the Gaza Strip, IAF (Israeli air force) fighter jets targeted a significant terror infrastructure in the Gaza Strip,” Israeli forces said in a statement.
Palestinian militants in Gaza have fired at least 20 rockets or mortar rounds at Israel since US President Donald Trump’s controversial December 6 recognition of Jerusalem as the country’s capital, at least six of which have been intercepted by the Iron Dome defense system.
The projectiles are often fired by fringe radical Islamist groups, but Israel holds Gaza’s militant rulers Hamas responsible for any attacks from the territory and retaliates by targeting Hamas positions.