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A masked man in Gaza prepares an incendiary balloon
Photo: Fatima Shbair / Getty Images
Israel's air force claims to have fired at several military installations and a rocket launch site operated by Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The attack was a "reaction to fire balloons" that had previously been sent from the coastal area in the direction of Israel, said the military on Friday night on Twitter.
The army is in increased readiness "for various scenarios and will continue its attacks on Hamas terrorist targets in Gaza," it said.
The military had already launched air strikes on Palestinian Organization military installations in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday night.
It was the first since the ceasefire with Hamas came into force four weeks ago.
These air strikes were also justified by previous fire balloon attacks.
Militant Palestinians repeatedly let such balloons loaded with explosives and incendiary devices fly over the border to Israel in order to cause damage there.
Israel's armed forces had an eleven-day conflict with Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip last month.
According to the authorities, 13 people were killed in Israel and, according to Palestinian accounts, 255 people died in Gaza.
Egypt eventually brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza ruling Hamas, which went into effect on May 21.
aar / dpa