JERUSALEM

The Israeli army deployed Iron Dome missile-defense batteries in several locations across the country on Monday, according to Israeli media reports.

Iron Dome batteries were deployed “countrywide”, Israeli Radio reported without elaborating.

The move comes in response to an alleged rocket barrage from the blockaded Gaza Strip that reportedly left seven Israelis injured earlier Monday.

While there has been no claim of responsibility from Gaza-based resistance groups, the Israeli military held Hamas -- which has governed the strip since 2007 -- responsible for Monday’s alleged rocket attack.

According to Israeli media outlets, the army also deployed two additional infantry brigades along the Gaza-Israel buffer zone -- while calling up fresh reservists from its air-defense units -- in the immediate wake of the rocket barrage.

The Israeli authorities have also closed Gaza’s Erez (Beit Hanoun) and Kerem Shalom border crossings until further notice.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat