(Communicated by the IDF Spokesperson)

On Friday night (November 19), the IAF struck a smuggling tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip. A direct hit was confirmed. The IAF targeted the tunnel in response to rockets fired at Israel's southern communities over the past three days. In addition, IAF aircrafts struck three terror sites in the Gaza Strip earlier that day.

Ten mortar shells were fired and landed in open area and a Grad rocket fired early Friday morning landed in the Merchavim Regional Council, and caused damage. This was the first time in three months that a rocket of this kind was fired and the first time since Operation Cast Lead that a rocket has reached the city of Ofakim.

The IDF holds the Hamas terrorist organization solely responsible for maintaining the calm in the Gaza Strip and for any terrorist activity emanating from it. The IDF will also continue to respond harshly to any attempt to use terror against the State of Israel.