Israeli, Palestinian Forces Exchange Barrage of Fire Amid Latest Spike in Tension

Hours earlier, the Israeli Iron Dome missile defense system was triggered after two rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip toward the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon. The latest spike in tension comes after 10 Palestinians were reportedly killed by Israeli troops during a raid in Jenin, a city in the West Bank.

A barrage of air raid sirens sounded off across southern Israel for the second time overnight Friday, mere moments after Israeli forces carried out counterstrikes against Palestinian sites in the Gaza Strip.

Sirens were reported in the towns of Nir Oz, Ein Habesor and Magen after bombing raids by Israeli authorities were conducted at about 3:30 a.m. local time.

Reports of sustained injuries have not yet surfaced.

Video footage documenting strikes from Israeli officials, the subsequent response from Palestinian forces and Iron Dome activity has since surfaced across social media.

Another militant site that was reportedly bombed by the IDF in the central Gaza Strip following rocket launches earlier tonight. pic.twitter.com/TjYXCJOpcO

— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) January 27, 2023

Video from central Gaza of IAF airstrikes. pic.twitter.com/47eTARp2r5

— Moshe Schwartz (@YWNReporter) January 27, 2023

From earlier Iron Dome activity pic.twitter.com/2doucZf9hM

— Aleph א (@no_itsmyturn) January 26, 2023

Shortly before the latest spate of air raid sirens were triggered, Israeli military officials reported their retaliatory strikes were being conducted against training sites used by "militant" Palestinian groups.

It's been reported Israeli forces opted to use drone technology to carry out two strikes against target sites in Gaza.

However, additional strikes by Israel were said to have been issued by Israeli jets. A translated message issued by the Israel Defense Forces indicated fighter jets had also attacked an underground military rocket production base.

Although the Israel's Iron Dome system intercepted the majority of projectiles launched from Gaza, Israeli military officials did indicate that one missile had landed in an open area. Another was said to have fallen within the parameters of the Gaza Strip.

Israel's retaliatory strikes had been widely anticipated after two rockets were intercepted in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon at about midnight.

Regional tensions have remained at a high for some time, with matters being more recently elevated after a deadly IDF raid in Jenin, which prompted the death of 10 Palestinians, including an elderly woman and two children. The raid has been considered the deadliest operation in the West Bank in years.