The Israeli Air Force struck two Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip late Wednesday night, hours after terrorists in Gaza fired a rocket into southern Israel. The rocket exploded in an open area in the Shaar Hanegev region of southern Israel, causing no injuries or damage. A Salafi terrorist group, the Islamic State-affiliated Sheikh Omar Hadid Brigade, reportedly claimed responsibility for the rocket fire. No one was injured in the IAF retaliatory strikes. An IDF Spokesperson's Unit statement said, "The IDF holds Hamas exclusively responsible for what happens in Gaza and will continue to act resolutely to preserve quiet in southern Israel." Israel typically responds to rocket attacks from Gaza with pinpoint reprisals against Hamas sites that cause no casualties in order to prevent further escalation. Terrorists in Gaza have sporadically fired rockets toward Israel since the end of Operation Protective Edge in the summer of 2014. According to the IDF, nine rockets fired from Gaza have struck Israel so far in 2016.
