Iron Dome intercepts missile over Tel Aviv

Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Ya'alon visits the IDF's Gaza Brigade on the border July 8.

JERUSALEM — Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted two rockets over Tel Aviv fired from the Gaza Strip.

The interception over central Israel occurred on Tuesday evening, according to media reports.

Color Red alert sirens had been heard throughout the Gush Dan area of central Israel, including Herzliya, and earlier in Gedera, also in the central district.

Prior to the siren, the Sde Dov Airport in Tel Aviv was closed to outgoing air traffic, according to reports.

In recent days, Hamas had threatened to strike Tel Aviv and other central Israeli cities.

Early Tuesday morning, Israel launched Operation Protective Edge in Gaza in an effort to stop a rocket barrage into southern Israel by Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza. The Israeli military has targeted about 150 of what it calls “terror sites” in Gaza. Eleven Palestinians have been killed in the strikes, according to Palestinian sources.

The terror groups have fired more than 130 rockets into civilian areas since Monday night.