Jerusalem, Feb. 25 -- Israel's military said it struck two sites in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, after identifying an attempted rocket launch from within the Palestinian enclave. There were no immediate reports of casualties. However, eyewitnesses reported hearing explosions as flames and smoke rose from one targeted site. They added ambulances had rushed to the scene, Xinhua news agency reported. According to a statement from Israel's military, the Israeli Air Force targeted an area from which the attempted rocket launch was made earlier in the day.

The military added it also struck a launcher in Gaza. Earlier, a spokesperson for the military said a failed rocket launch from Gaza had been identified. The projectile fell inside the strip,...