Palestinian protesters run to take cover from tear gas during clashes on the Gaza-Israel border, east of the southern Gaza Strip City of Khan Younis, on July 20, 2018. Four Palestinians were killed and 210 wounded on Friday during a mounting tension between the Israeli army and Islamic Hamas movement, which rules the Gaza Strip, medics and local media reported. (Xinhua/Khaled Omar)
JERUSALEM, July 20 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army Friday evening continued to carry out massive airstrikes throughout the Gaza Strip in retaliation for the death of an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) combat soldier.
The Israel army confirmed that an IDF combat soldier was killed during operational activity near the southern Gaza Strip on Friday.
A terrorist squad shot at IDF troops and the IDF soldier was severely injured, and he later succumbed to his wounds, according to the Israeli army.
Late Friday night, the IDF recently completed an additional attack on 25 military targets located in a Hamas battalion headquarters in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, said the IDF in a statement.
The IDF eliminated the battalion's command and control capabilities, the battalion commander's office, as well as unique aerial defense capabilities, said the IDF.
The IDF also targeted a UAV warehouse, aerial defense systems, observation posts and a factory used for underground infrastructure manufacturing.
"The strikes are still ongoing," noted the IDF.
Before the large-scale evening airstrikes, the IDF said the it attacked 15 military targets located in a Hamas battalion headquarters in the Zaytun neighborhood of the northern Gaza Strip.
The IDF eliminated the headquarters and significantly damaged its capabilities. Among the targets were weaponry warehouses, equipment storage, training facilities, observation posts, command and control rooms, the battalion's operation room, the battalion commander's office and additional infrastructure, according to the IDF.
Following the strikes, at least two projectiles were intercepted by the the IDF's Iron Dome system and another fell in an open field, the army said.
Before these airstrikes, the Israeli aircraft and tanks targeted eight Hamas military posts throughout the Hamas-run Gaza Strip.
The IDF spokesman told reporters that a major ground offensive was not ruled out, but also said the IDF was not looking to enter a full-scale conflict.
At least four Palestinians from Hamas's military wing were reportedly killed in the IDF retaliatory action and at least 120 Palestinians were reportedly wounded, according to Israeli media.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an additional security assessment discussion at the IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv.
Israeli media also reported that Liberman called the United Nations envoy to the Middle East Nikoali Mladanov to discuss the deteriorating situation in Gaza on Friday evening.
Liberman told Mladenov that if Hamas continues with the rocket fire, the result will be "much more difficult than they think" and "the responsibility for all the destruction and human life will be on Hamas."
