The Israeli Air Force launched airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on June 16 after Palestinians in the besieged enclave sent ‘incendiary balloons’ into southern Israel, as per Israel's military and witnesses in Gaza.
The airstrikes and balloons marked the first major flare-up between Israel and Gaza since a ceasefire on May 21 ended 11 days of heavy fighting that killed 260 Palestinians, according to Gaza authorities, and 13 people in Israel, the police and army there said.
Jazeera reported that the Israeli army said it attacked Hamas compounds and that it was "ready for all scenarios, including renewed fighting in the face of continued terrorist acts emanating from Gaza."
