Rocket interception (archive)
Rocket interception (archive)Kobi Richter/TPS

Sirens were sounded overnight Saturday, around 2:00 a.m., in Palmachim and the northern industrial area in Ashdod.

The IDF confirmed that two rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip toward Israeli territory. One launch did not trigger a siren in the Ashdod area in the absence of the need for it. The second launch triggered sirens in the city of Ashdod and in the Shfela region.

“Air defense fighters launched interceptors at the targets in accordance with policy,” the IDF statement said.

The Ashdod municipality confirmed that a siren was sounded in the northern industrial area of the city, but said no rocket had exploded in the city itself.

Shortly before the sirens, residents of the city of Ashkelon reported hearing explosions and seeing interceptions of rockets in the city's skies. No alarm was sounded in this area.

In addition, residents in the Gush Dan area of central Israel reported an explosion and activities of the Iron Dome system.

No injuries or damage have been reported so far.

In response to the rocket fire, IDF fighter jets, helicopters and tanks attacked underground infrastructure and military positions of the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza.

"The IDF is conducting an ongoing assessment of the situation and acts firmly and decisively against any attempt at terrorist activity against the citizens of the State of Israel and the violation of its sovereignty," said the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit in a statement.

In late October, two rockets were fired from Gaza toward Israel. One of was intercepted by the Iron Dome system and another rocket exploded in an open area. There were no physical injuries or damages.

The IDF retaliated by striking Hamas military targets in Gaza.

Saturday night’s rocket fire towards the south comes as the IDF remains on high alert in the south on the one-year anniversary of the elimination of senior Islamic Jihad terrorist Baha Abu al-Ata, which was marked this past Thursday.