Charred remains of the vehicle that was attacked
IAF attacks car of incendiary kites, balloons cell leader
Palestinians report vehicle was empty at time of the early-morning attack; IDF plans to continue firing warning shots at cells launching incendiary and explosive balloons and kites at Israel, escalating the situation only if the warnings are not heeded.
The IAF attacked the vehicle of one of the leaders of the incendiary kites and balloons cells in the northern Gaza Strip early Sunday morning.
Palestinian media reported the vehicle attacked by the IAF was empty.
The IDF Spokesman's Office said the strike was in response to the incendiary and explosive balloons and kites being launched at Israel from the Gaza Strip.
"The IDF is determined to continue acting with increasing force against these terror activities for as long as it takes and with a variety of tools. The Hamas terror organization is responsible for everything that happens in and from the Gaza Strip, and it will suffer the consequences."
The IAF fired warning shots Saturday at a cell launching incendiary balloons, wounding two of them.
On Friday, IAF also fired warning shots at a group of Palestinians flying incendiary balloons and kites near the Bureij refugee camp, near the same spot where Israeli jets hit infrastructure a day earlier.
The IDF is expected to continue firing warning shots at cells flying incendiary and explosive balloons and kites. If these warnings don't suffice, the IDF might escalate further and carry out direct and accurate strikes against them.
The incendiary balloons and kites caused 20 fires in Israeli communities near the Gaza border on Saturday, with the sweltering heat further exacerbating the blazes. No one was hurt in any of the fires, but damage was caused to crops.
One fire broke out in the Kissufim area and spread to nearby groves, drawing near an IDF base. Firefighters and security coordinators were able to stop the flames at the last moment.
