Daily US Times: Israel has launched airstrikes against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, after incendiary balloons were launched from the territory.

Explosions were heard in Gaza in the early hours of Wednesday.

Earlier on Tuesday, several balloons were sent from Gaza into Israel, which caused multiple fires, according to the Israeli fire service.

It is the first major flare-up since 11 days of fighting between Israel and Hamas ended in a ceasefire on 21 May.

The recent incident was spark after a march by Jewish nationalists in occupied East Jerusalem on Tuesday, which had drawn threats from Hamas.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that its fighter jets had hit military compounds operated by Hamas in Khan Yunis and Gaza City.

IDF said “terrorist activity” took place in the compound, and that the Israeli military was “prepared for all scenarios, including the resumption of hostilities, in the face of continued terror acts from the Gaza Strip”.

It is immediately unclear if the airstrikes have caused any injuries.

A Hamas spokesperson twitted that Palestinians would continue their “valiant resistance” and defend their rights “until the occupier is expelled from our entire land”.

The incendiary balloons launched earlier from Gaza had caused at least 20 fires in fields by communities in southern Israel, according to Israel’s fire service.

This is the first violent exchange between Hamas and Israel since Israeli’s new coalition government came to power last weekend, headed by Naftali Bennett and drawing an end to Benjamin Netanyahu’s 12-year run as prime minister.

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