Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fired a rocket into southern Israel on Tuesday morning, setting off air raid sirens in communities adjacent to the border, Israeli army said.

The projectile exploded in an open area, causing no injuries or damage. Israeli troops and police were searching for the rocket's remains.

The attack comes after Islamist group Hamas, which rules the Palestinian enclave, on Saturday evening withdrew forces that were deployed near the border on Jan. 21 to prevent rocket launches at Israel.

Hamas said the forces were removed from their positions to protest recent Israeli air strikes against its military infrastructure in Gaza, which routinely follow intermittent rocket attacks.

While smaller militant factions rivaling Hamas, among them al- Qaida-linked groups, are behind the recent rocket fire, Israel says it holds Hamas accountable for the attacks.