The Israel Air Force (IAF) struck four sites in the northern Gaza Strip early Thursday morning, shortly after five rockets were fired from the Palestinian enclave, according to a statement from the Israeli army

The army claimed the sites were a weapons storage facility, a weapons manufacturing site, an underground rocket launcher and a terror site belonging to militants and all suffered direct hits.

Initial reports from Hamas' Ministry of Health said at least two residents living near the targeted sites were injured. The ministry's spokesperson was not immediately available to give details.

The Israeli raids came a few hours after Palestinian militants fired several rockets toward the coastal city of Ashkelon in southern Israel, with no casualties or damage reported.

Israel's Iron Dome rocket defense system successfully intercepted the projectiles, and a sixth might have possibly landed in an open area, the statement said.

No Palestinian group has claimed responsibility for the rocket attack.

On Monday, Israeli aircraft struck two targets in Gaza in retaliation for rockets that landed just kilometers from the burial ceremony for former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon.

Palestinian factions in Gaza, led by Hamas, hold a fragile ceasefire with Israel. However, there are often reports of tit-for-tat attacks on both sides of the volatile fence. Endi