Israeli warplane strikes Gaza targets in response to rocket fire

An Israeli warplane struck militant targets in northern Gaza Strip overnight Tuesday, the Israeli military said Wednesday.

The strike, which targeted concealed rocket launchers, came hours after two rockets were fired from the coastal enclave toward the Western Negev as Israel began releasing 26 Palestinian prisoners.

One rocket fell in an open area near the Israeli town of Sderot and another within Gaza. No casualties or damage were caused, Israeli media reported.

The security forces were canvassing the area for the remains of the projectiles.

"The IDF airstrikes were conducted in response to the rocket launched at civilians living in the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council Tuesday evening. This is an absurd situation that would not be tolerated anywhere else in the world," army spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said in a statement.

The statement said Islamist group Hamas, which rules the territory, "must be held accountable" for breaching Israeli sovereignty.

The army said it will "continue operating to safeguard Israeli civilians and combat terror and its infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.