JERUSALEM • Israel has resumed strikes on targets linked to the Islamic Jihad militant group in the Gaza Strip after it fired a number of rockets into Israel.

The announcement by the Israeli military early Friday indicated that an unofficial cease-fire declared nearly 24 hours earlier was breaking down.

The truce had ended two days of fighting ignited by Israel’s targeted killing of one of the Iran-backed militant group’s top Gaza commanders.

The fighting killed 34 Palestinians, including 16 civilians, according to rights groups.

Islamic Jihad fired at least 450 rockets into Israel on Tuesday and Wednesday, most of which landed in open areas or were intercepted. Sporadic rocket fired continued Thursday after the cease-fire was announced.

Israel began responding early Friday.

The truce came after two days of fighting triggered by the targeted killing of a senior Islamic Jihad commander in Gaza.

The Iran-backed group is pledged to Israel’s destruction.

Islamic Jihad militants fired about 450 projectiles toward Israel, with most landing in open areas or being intercepted.

Hamas, the Islamic militant group ruling Gaza, appears to have stayed out of the fighting.

Gaza militants fired a barrage of rockets into Israel hours after a cease-fire was declared to bring to an end to two days of intense fighting.

Palestinians inspect a crater and the rubble of destroyed houses Thursday after overnight Israeli missile strikes in Al-Qarara, east of Khan Younis, southern Gaza.

the associated press