By Abdel Ra'ouf Arnaout
JERUSALEM (AA) – Hamas on Friday launched its longest-range missile reaching northern Israel before it was intercepted after sirens sounded in several northern areas.
“A missile was launched from the Gaza Strip towards the northern region of the country,” the Israeli army said in a statement.
“Air defense fighters succeeded in intercepting the missile,” it added.
Warning sirens sounded in several areas of northern Israel, including the Galilee region and the city of Safed.
Israeli officials said that this was the largest long-range rocket attack ever launched by Hamas, according to the Israeli Walla news website.
In a dramatic escalation of Middle East tensions, Israeli forces launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip, a response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories.
The conflict began last Saturday when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel, a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air.
Hamas said the operation was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.
The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.
Israel's response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.
* Writing by Ikram Kouachi