Israeli aircraft struck several terrorist outposts in Gaza late Saturday in response to incendiary and explosives-laden balloons launched from the Palestinian coastal enclave.
The IDF said the sites in Khan Younis belonged to Hamas, the Islamic terrorist group ruling the territory, and included weapons manufacturing and intelligence-gathering facilities.
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There were no reports of injuries from the airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip.
Blaming Hamas, the IDF said it considers "any kind of terror activity with great severity and will continue operating as necessary against attempts to harm [Israeli] civilians."
Palestinian terrorist groups resumed launching flammable balloons and balloons fixed with explosive devices on Israel recently and Hamas said it's encouraging the shootings, charging Israel of not honoring an unofficial truce meant to improve the economy in Gaza.
In trying to bolster the Egyptian and UN-mediated truce, Hamas halted the regular weekly riots along the Israel-Gaza border fence last month.
Earlier this week, a senior Hamas official said that the balloons were a signal to Israel to accelerate the informal "understandings" meant to ease the blockade on Gaza.
The official, Khalil al-Hayya, said the balloons are being launched by disgruntled individuals, not Hamas. But he said his group was "satisfied" with the launches and is ready to send more "if the occupation doesn't pick up the message."
Al-Hayya said Hamas expects Israel to allow in more medical supplies, unlimited trade between Gaza and the world, help create more jobs and extend Qatari payments for electricity and poor families.
Israel and Egypt imposed the blockade when Hamas, viewed as a terrorist organization by the US and most of the West, rose to power in a violent takeover in 2007.
