Illustrative photo of an Israeli F-15 Eagle fighter jet (Edi Israel/Flash90/File)
On May 16, the Israeli Air Force bombed the Hamas Movement’s “Metro” tunnel network in the Gaza Strip in response to a large rocket strike on Tel Aviv.
Hamas military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, launched dozens of rockets at Tel Aviv and its outskirts right after midnight. The attack marked the end of a temporary halt of rocket attacks that was announced by the group just two hours earlier.
video of launches from #Gaza into #Israel caught on live stream. pic.twitter.com/BYNItFBC6d
— Aurora Intel (@AuroraIntel) May 15, 2021
Interceptions caught over Tel Aviv. pic.twitter.com/ho5JbssN3c
— Aurora Intel (@AuroraIntel) May 15, 2021
Video taken from Gaza of the recent launches pic.twitter.com/HjRDLOC4mL
— Aurora Intel (@AuroraIntel) May 15, 2021
Iron Dome putting in some serious work tonight
(Video: Tai Tzaban) pic.twitter.com/Omi2JL9ibo
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) May 15, 2021
Most of the rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dom system. Nevertheless, several impacts were reported. The attack resulted in no fatalities.
Israeli warplanes responded by attacking the co-called Hamas “Metro,” a network of tunnels and underground facilities which were dug by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades beneath Gaza. The underground network was allegedly targeted with 100 guided munitions.
In response to continuous rocket fire at Israeli territory, over the last 24 hours, IAF fighter jets and aircraft struck over 90 Hamas and Islamic Jihad terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip. pic.twitter.com/PZwn152FWH
— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) May 16, 2021
One of the heavy airstrikes launched by the Israeli occupation warplanes on #Gaza.#gaza #gazaunderattack #gaza_under_attack #GenocideinGaza #GenociedinGaza pic.twitter.com/UQXQbwEKna
— Shehab (@ShehabPal) May 15, 2021
One of the houses that were bombed by the Israeli occupation a short while ago in Al Wehda street in #Gaza city#GazaUnderAttack #GenociedinGaza pic.twitter.com/PM7UdQaO1r
— Shehab (@ShehabPal) May 15, 2021
#صور الاحتلال يدمر الطرق والشوارع الرئيسية في مدينة غزة، خلال الغارات العنيفة التي شنتها طائراته الليلة الماضية.
تصوير: أحمد الخولي pic.twitter.com/5r0Cf4AKj2
— وكالة شهاب للأنباء (@ShehabAgency) May 16, 2021
#صور جانب من الأضرار الناجمة عن قصف الاحتلال على مدينة غزة، الليلة الماضية. pic.twitter.com/BdECrtm5TM
— وكالة شهاب للأنباء (@ShehabAgency) May 16, 2021
Israeli airstrikes also targeted:
- The residence of Yahya Sinwar, Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau;
- The residence of Muhammad Sinwar, Head of Logistics and Manpower for Hamas;
- The offices of Samah Sarag, Head of Planning and Development of the Hamas Political Bureau;
- The residence of Youssef Abel-Wahab, commander of the Hamas Zeitoun Battalion;
- The residence of Ahmad Abd El Aal, a senior Hamas Military Intelligence official;
- The residence of the commander of the Hamas Jabalia Battalion.
A short while ago, IAF fighter jets struck military assets in the intelligence headquarters of the Hamas terror organization in the northern Gaza Strip. Hamas intelligence operatives work in the building to provide operational assessments for the terror organization. pic.twitter.com/gRKOasmiIA
— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) May 16, 2021
A short while ago, an IAF fighter jet struck the house of the commander of the Jabalia Battalion in the Hamas terror organization, which served as a terror infrastructure. pic.twitter.com/rjZBo6YqsQ
— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) May 16, 2021
Furthermore, the Israeli military claimed that more than 40 rocket launch sites in the Gaza Strip were struck in the last 24 hours.
Since the outbreak of the battle in Gaza, Israeli strikes have claimed the lives of 202 Palestinians, including 53 children and 31 women. More than 5,500 other people were injured, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza.
