The Israeli military said Wednesday it carried out overnight strikes on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip after incendiary balloons were launched across the border from the Palestinian enclave into southern Israel.

The military said in a statement that the attacks were a "retaliation" for dozens of balloons attached with incendiary or explosive materials launched from the Hamas-run coastal enclave in recent days

Fighter jets, attack helicopters and tanks struck "a number of sites" belonging to Hamas, an Islamist Palestinian movement that runs Gaza, including a military compound, underground infrastructures, and observation posts, according to the statement.

The army threatened that it will continue "operating as necessary against attempts to harm Israeli civilians."

Israel has closed its Kerem Shalom goods crossing with the Gaza Strip, saying the measure is a response to the recent balloon launches.

Fire services in southern Israel said the balloons caused 60 fires on Tuesday alone but reported no casualties.

Explosives tied to balloons and kites first emerged as a weapon in Gaza during intense protests in 2018, when the makeshift devices drifted across the border daily, causing thousands of fires in Israeli farms and communities.

Israel estimates that opposition groups in Gaza stand behind the explosive balloons but holds Hamas responsible for not stopping them.

Israel's Defense Minister and Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz said that if the launching of the balloons will not be stopped, Israel "will need to respond, and forcefully."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated the threat. "Balloon terrorism will have a heavy price," he said.

Commentators on Palestinian and Israeli media said the balloons often aim to pressure Israel to allow the transfer of Qatari money to Gaza amidst an escalating financial and humanitarian crisis in the besieged Palestinian enclave.

Israel and Hamas had fought three rounds of war since 2008 with sporadically clash with rockets, mortar fire or incendiary balloons between them. Over the past months, both sides kept an unofficial ceasefire.

(With input from agencies)