Israeli air force launches airstrikes in Gaza

JERUSALEM/GAZA, April 2 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Air Force launched two airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday night, following a Palestinian rocket and mortar attack on southern Israel earlier in the day, witnesses and security sources said.

The air raid is the first of its kind since Israel staged a large-scale military operation on the Gaza enclave in November last year.

The Israeli F-16 jets hit open spaces in eastern Gaza City and northern Gaza Strip shortly before midnight. Local residents said huge sounds of explosions that shook their houses were heard. There has been no report of damage or casualties.

A spokeswoman of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declined to confirm the reports when inquired by Xinhua, saying she is still verifying the details.

Tuesday afternoon, a rocket launched by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip exploded in the Eshkol Regional Council in southern Israel. No one was hurt and no damage caused.

Earlier Tuesday two mortars were fired from Gaza toward Israel, but landed in Palestinian territory.

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