Palestinian militants fired mortar shells at IDF soldiers on the border between Israel southern Gaza on Thursday, Jan 9 morning. In response, the Israel Air Force struck the cell that fired into Israel, the Jerusalem Post reported.

Israeli aircraft attacked a small group of Palestinian militants in the southern Gaza Strip as they were preparing to strike IDF troops near the security fence that separates Israel proper from the coastal enclave, the army said early Thursday morning.

There were no casualties on the Israeli side.

“Terrorist organizations in Gaza have made it a goal to harm Israeli civilians and IDF forces,” the army said in a statement. “The IDF will continue to act with determination for as long as necessary against any actor who uses terrorism against the State of Israel.”

The army said Israel would hold Hamas responsible for any hostile activity emanating from the Gaza Strip.