Hamas probably is not responsible for the recent escalation of missile attacks on Israel and may even be trying to prevent them. However, it still will be the target of retaliation, a senior Israeli military officer told Reuters Thursday.

The officer, who was quoted on the basis of anonymity, said rival terrorist groups, smaller than Hamas, are likely behind the attacks.

The IDF routinely states that Hamas is responsible for all terrorist activity since it is the de facto authority in Gaza since it overthrew the rival Fatah terrorist faction nearly eight years ago.

Evidence of smaller groups was exposed by the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) on Wednesday, when it revealed that it arrested in December three Palestinian Authority terrorists, including the ringleader who tried to create the cell from his Israeli jail cell and was in contact with a Gaza terrorist  under the direction of Hamas.

The Holy Warriors Brigade, was financed and trained by Hamas, which in effect was a front for the cell, security officers said.

The IDF has suggested several times over the past two years that Hamas is losing control of Gaza and that  it is unable to influence other terrorist groups to increase or decrease attacks on Israel.

The latest round of missile attacks spiked with five launches towards Ashkelon late Wednesday night, with the Iron Dome system intercepting the incoming rockets.

“We won’t go back to a situation where three or four times a week the red alarm sounds in southern Israeli towns,” the military source told Reuters.

The Israeli Air Force almost immediately retaliated to Wednesday night’s multiple rocket attacks on Israel and scored direct hits on an underground rocket launcher, a weapons storage facility and a factory manufacturing weapons.

The Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepted the rockets from Gaza before they could hit their targets in Ashkelon, approximately 5 miles from northern Gaza.

“The IDF response was precise, swift and efficient in eliminating terror capabilities that only exist in order to terrorize, kill and maim Israelis,” said IDF Spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner.

The video below shows how it was done.

During the early hours of Thursday morning, Jan. 16, five rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel. The rockets set off the Tzeva Adom Code Red Alert sirens along the western edge of Israel’s borders.

The Iron Dome defense system intercepted the five rockets, while one additional rocket landed in an empty field.  The rockets were aimed at or near the Israeli city of Ashkelon.

No injuries were reported.

This most recent round of rockets started on Monday when the Gazans decided to send a farewell barrage to former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon who was laid to rest at his Sycamore Ranch in the Negev on that day.

The IAF retaliated for the rocket launches by striking four terror infrastructure sites in northern Gaza.

Israel will honor the late Senator Daniel Inouye, who was one of Congress’ most stalwart pro-Israel legislators, by naming an Arrow missile after him, the first time the honor will have been expressed for someone who is not an Israeli.

Irene Inouye, wife of the senator, is scheduled to attend the January 14 cemetery at the secret base, the Jerusalem Post reported. She also will grant the first scholarship in her late husband’s name to the Israel Arts and Science Academy in Jerusalem

Sen. Inouye died in December 2012 at the age of 88. He campaigned for freeing Jews from the Soviet Union, worked on behalf of Holocaust survivors and was instrumental in securing American funding for the Iron Dome anti-missile system.

Sen. Inouye lost an arm in a World War II battle in Italy, was decorated as a war and received the Medal of Honor.

After the war, where he learned about the Holocaust, he studied Jewish history. His first job was selling Israeli bonds, and he once considered converting to Judaism but did not went to irritate his devout Christian mother. Sen. Inouye felt so close to Judaism and Israel that he attached mezuzahs on the doors of his offices.

“He was a man who saw two injustices – genocide against Native Americans and against Europe’s Jews – and he wanted to make sure the Native Americans got help in their restoration and that Israel had America’s support in securing itself against those who did not wish Israel’s population well and who wished the nation-state did not exist,” said Tom Dine, the former executive director of AIPAC, after the senator died.

12:33 AM The Red Alert siren just went off for an incoming Grad rocket attack from Gaza towards Ashkelon Beach.

12:52 AM The rocket fell in an open area inside one of the towns neighboring Gaza. No injuries or damage were reported.

The IDF censor has also permitted publication, that an Iron Dome system has been deployed in Be’er Sheva.

Chairmen of the Senate and House of Representatives budget committees have proposed a budget deal that would restore $220 million for two more Iron Dome anti-missile batteries only months after they were said to be victims of budget sequestration.

The proposed deal needs to be approved by houses of Congress before becoming law. The deal also adds $15 million for a US co-production capability for Iron Dome parts.

Following a night of fighting between Hamas and the IDF in Gaza, leaving 5 IDF soldiers injured, and up to three Hamas terrorists dead, Gaza fired yet another mortar at Israel at 5:30 AM on Friday. It hit in the Eshkol region. No injuries or damage were reported.

Gazan terrorists launched multiple rockets at Israel at 5 AM Monday morning. One rocket that was going to hit Ashkelon was intercepted by Iron Dome. The other three landed in open areas.

Israel is set to name 26 terrorists today that is will be releasing, including 5 Gazans, and just the other week uncovered terror tunnels leading from Gaza, into Israeli towns.

On Sunday, two mortars from Gaza landed in Israel. No damage was reported in that attack.