TEL AVIV/GAZA, July 9 (RIA Novosti) – Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attacked 160 targets in the Gaza Strip overnight, continuing a large-scale military campaign against Palestinian militants, the army press service said Wednesday.
"Overnight, as part of the ongoing operation “Protective Edge”, the IDF targeted approximately 160 terror sites throughout the Gaza Strip. Among the terror targets the IDF struck are: 118 concealed rocket launching sites, consisting of long-range rockets launchers; weapon storage facilities; 10 tunnels, out of which 7 terror tunnels and 3 smuggling tunnels; 6 Hamas official facilities, and 10 terror command positions," the army statement reads.
According to the reports from the local Health Department, 24 people lost their lives and over 200 were injured after Israel launched air strikes on Tuesday. Palestinian radio said the death toll has reached 31 people, apparently including five terrorists that were killed when attempting to enter Israel from the sea. The last incident with casualties was in the northern city of Beit Hanoun, in which six people died in the strike, including two women and two children.
This is the first military campaign launched by Israel since November 2012 and it has so far been limited to distant air and naval strikes, although Tel-Aviv has said a land operation is possible and has recalled 40,000 reserves.
Earlier Tuesday, Palestinian militants carried out a missile salvo on major Israeli cities, including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. According to army reports, from 117 to 154 missiles fired from the Gaza Strip exploded on Israeli territory, and another 29 were shot down in the air. Israel has not announced any victims.
