“Our air force last night attacked a weapons factory and two tunnels dug under the border with Egypt and used for weapons smuggling,” the spokeswoman told AFP.

“The raids were conducted after a Palestinian rocket was fired,” she said, adding that it slammed into the Negev desert, causing no casualties or damage.

Since Israel’s devastating military offensive against Gaza ended on January 18, Palestinian militants have fired 125 rockets and 76 mortar shells, according to Israeli figures.

About 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed during the 22-day onslaught Israel had launched in a bid to halt the rocket fire.