CBNNews.com - JERUSALEM, Israel - Israeli Air Force (IAF) aircraft targeted tunnels near the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Tuesday.

The IAF also hit a Hamas stronghold in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza.

The air strikes were in response to a Grad missile attack on the coastal city of Ashkelon Tuesday morning, the first since the end of Operation Cast Lead.

Following the attack, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) warned Gaza residents of an impending air strike.

Recorded phone messages in Arabic warned residents of Rafah who work in smuggling tunnels or live near them to evacuate their homes prior to a retaliatory air strike.

The message warned residents "giving logistical help to terrorists" to leave the area immediately.

Outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert summoned Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livi to discuss the missile attack, but made no statements following their meeting.

Mark Regev, spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office, warned of serious consequences should Palestinians continue firing rockets on southern Israel.

"Hamas is play with fire and they alone will be responsible for the destruction of the truce," Regev told reporters.

"The whole international community will understand that if there is a new escalation, it will be the direct result of Hamas's extremist, irresponsible and nihilistic behavior," he said.

Source: The Jerusalem Post