PA FIRES MISSILES FROM GAZA HOMES TEL AVIV — Israel's military has determined that the Palestinian Authority transferred missile production and launching facilities to communities in the northern Gaza Strip.

Officials said the Hamas-led PA and Palestinian militias have been producing Kassam-class, short-range missiles in such towns as Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahiya and Jabalya. They said the production facilities were transported to Palestinian communities in an effort to prevent Israeli air strikes.

"Lately, we can see that terror cells have changed their operational tactics," Israel Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Eliezer Shkedy said. "In heavily-populated areas, they manufacture the Kassams, transport them and fire them in the yards of homes. Their exposure is very brief in an effort to keep away from our fire."

Palestinian gunners have escalated missile attacks on Israel from communities in the northern Gaza Strip. On Friday, Palestinian gunners fired at least two Kassam missiles into Israel. There were no reports of injuries.

The air force has been under pressure in wake of two incidents this week in which air-to-ground missiles veered off-course and struck Palestinian civilians. In a three-day period, 12 Palestinian civilians were killed in military strikes.

Shkedy said the air force can not wait for Kassam missile squads to leave their safe houses. He said Palestinian missile squads needed only minutes to set up launchers and fire toward Israel.

"If we wait endlessly for a car full of terrorists to drive out into an open area, we may be waiting a very long time," Shkedy said.

Officials said that despite the collateral damage the air force would maintain attacks on Palestinian missile squads. They said the military and government — in absence of a decision for a ground strike — depended almost solely on the air force to stop Palestinian missile gunners.

"Since the Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza, the Israel Air Force has become more dominant," Shkedy said. "This year, the number of [air force] attacks is five times higher than it was during the same period in 2005. The air force is operating almost exclusively in Gaza, as long as a ground offensive is ruled out. But a ground operation is also a possibility."