Late Saturday night, the Israeli Air Force struck terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip. The airstrikes came hours after Palestinian terrorists operating out of the Strip fired Kassam rockets at the coastal city of Ashkelon.

The rocket, which fell south of the city, did not cause any damage or casualties.

“IAF aircraft targeted 5 terror sites, 4 in the northern Gaza Strip and an additional location in the southern Gaza Strip,” the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said. “Direct hits were confirmed.”

Ynet quoted Palestinian sources as confirming that one of the targets hit in the northern Gaza Strip was most likely a hidden rocket silo.

The IDF said that continued aggression from the Gaza Strip will result in heavy retaliation by Israel in order to protect its citizens.

“The retaliation this evening at Gaza terrorist aggression was precision, and intelligence based,” said IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner. “It is our obligation to seek out those that wish to attack us, eliminate their capabilities and pursue them wherever they hide. Hamas rocket terrorism is an intolerable reality Israeli should not have to accept.”

Saturday’s rocket attack follows two previous incidents earlier in the week. On Friday, a rocket was fired towards the Ashkelon region. On Thursday, four Kassam rockets struck around open areas near Sderot. The IDF responded with airstrikes on several targets in Gaza.

The IDF estimates that since the beginning of the year, around 130 rockets have been fired towards Israel by terrorists in the Strip. Out of the 130 rockets, 82 directly hit southern Israel.