JERUSALEM (JTA) – Israel said its airstrikes hit nine Hamas targets in Gaza after three rockets were fired from Gaza on southern Israeli communities.

The Israeli strikes targeted two military compounds and a munition manufacturing site in the northern Gaza Strip. The Israel Defense Forces said they were also in response to the arson attacks from explosive kites and balloons that have been flown into Israel causing damage to thousands of acres of agricultural fields and woodlands.

“These are terrorist acts that endanger Israeli residents living in southern Israel and damage extensive areas in Israeli territory,” the IDF said in a statement.

“The IDF has fired warning shots near groups who were responsible for the arson and destruction in Israel, and has carried out attacks against infrastructure used by these groups,” the statement also said. “The IDF’s intelligence and operational capabilities will allow it to increase these strikes as necessary. The IDF is determined to continue to act with increasing intensity against these acts of terror as long as required, using the variety of tools at its disposal.”

Code Red rocket alert sirens sounded in southern Israeli communities sounded  early Sunday morning throughout the city of Ashkelon as well as smaller border towns and kibbutzim. Two of the rockets landed on Israeli territory and one landed in Gaza.

They were the first rockets fired at Israel from Gaza in nearly two weeks.