The air assault comes as violence continues in the region following a raid on the al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem during Ramadan.
, as Israel said its planes hit targets including tunnels and weapons manufacturing sites of Hamas, which controls the blockaded southern coastal strip.The military said it had also struck Hamas targets in southernThe strikes came in response to rocket attacks from Lebanon towards northern Israeli areas, which Israeli officials blamed on Hamas.
The Israeli military said 34 rockets were launched from Lebanon, of which 25 were intercepted by air defence systems.An explosion seen in Gaza during Israeli airstrikes "Israel's response, tonight and later, will exact a significant price from our enemies," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said following a security cabinet meeting.
As the Israeli jets struck in Gaza, rockets were fired in response and sirens sounded in Israeli towns and cities in bordering areas, however there were no reports of serious casualties.The strikes came amid an escalating confrontation over Israeli police raids at the al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which this year coincides with the Jewish Passover holiday.
"The IDF will not allow the Hamas terrorist organisation to operate from within Lebanon and hold the state of Lebanon responsible for every directed fire emanating from its territory."