The Israeli air force hit three targets in the Gaza Strip Thursday morning, with no casualties reported.

Local sources told Xinhua that the three raided sites are located in the east, north and northwest, and one of them is the training site of the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic resistance movement Hamas east of Gaza City.

Israeli public radio reported that the Israeli air force attacked the Gaza Strip in response to the firing of a mortar shell in western Negev overnight Wednesday.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) released a statement saying that "the IDF holds Hamas responsible for what happens in the Gaza Strip and will continue to act sternly to ensure the safety of southern communities."

On Aug. 21, the Israeli air force launched five raids on the Gaza Strip in response to the launch of a rocket from Gaza into southern Israel, without causing casualties.

Source : XINHUA