JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israeli warplanes on Thursday attacked a building and two tunnels in the Gaza Strip following the launch of rockets by Palestinian militants, a military spokeswoman said.

The aircraft targeted a building in the southern city of Khan Yunis where Palestinian militants were producing weapons, and two smuggling tunnels linking the southern city of Rafah with nearby Egypt, the spokeswoman said.

The operation followed a dozen rocket and mortar attacks from Gaza-based Palestinian militants since October 22.

According to an Israeli army count, some 270 rockets and mortar shells have been fired at Israel since the end of the Jewish state's offensive against the Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers at the beginning of the year.