Israeli army launches offensive on Gaza Strip

Israel bombards Gaza Strip after surge in Palestinian rocket attacks on Israeli towns: http://t.co/YUhTBz43Sr pic.twitter.com/rFNzkDJFhl

— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) July 8, 2014

JERUSALEM — The Israeli army says it has launched an offensive operation against the Gaza Strip to quell rocket attacks, and a Palestinian official says Israeli airstrikes have wounded at least nine Palestinians.

A Twitter statement from the Israeli army early Tuesday says Operation Protective Edge is intended to “stop the terror Israel’s citizens face on a daily basis.”

The army says it was carrying out airstrikes early Tuesday in the Gaza Strip early Tuesday. It did not elaborate.

Gaza health official Ashraf Al-Kedra says at least nine Palestinians were brought to a Gaza hospital with light to moderate injuries.

The airstrikes come after Gaza militants fired dozens of rockets at southern Israel late Monday, as the Israeli military rushed more forces to the border.