Jerusalem, Jan 16 (IANS): The Israel Air Force (IAF) struck four sites in the northern Gaza Strip early Thursday morning, shortly after five rockets were fired from the Palestinian enclave, according to a statement issued by the Israeli army.

The army claimed that the sites were a weapons storage facility, a weapons manufacturing site, an underground rocket launcher and a terror site belonging to militants and all suffered direct hits, Xinhua reported.

Initial reports from Hamas's health ministry said at least two residents living near the targeted sites were injured. The ministry's spokesperson was not immediately available to give details.

The Israeli raids came a few hours after Palestinian militants fired several rockets toward the coastal city of Ashkelon in southern Israel, with no casualties or damage reported.

Israel's Iron Dome rocket defence system successfully intercepted the projectiles, and a sixth might have possibly landed in an open area, the statement said.

No Palestinian group has claimed responsibility for the rocket attack.

On Monday, Israeli aircraft struck two targets in Gaza in retaliation for rockets that landed just kilometres from the burial ceremony of former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon, who had passed away last Saturday.

Palestinian factions in Gaza, led by Hamas, hold a fragile ceasefire with Israel. However, there are often reports of tit-for-tat attacks on both sides of the volatile fence.