Islamic Jihad threatens to avenge IAF killing of operative

IDF strikes Mohammed Najar while on his motorcycle, says operative was involved in planning "massive" terror attack in Israel.

By YAAKOV KATZ
kassam fired 224 88 (photo credit: )
kassam fired 224 88
(photo credit: )
An Israel Air Force missile killed 24-year-old Mohammed Najar, a top Islamic Jihad operative in the Gaza Strip, as he rode a motorcycle close to the Israeli border near Khan Younis on Tuesday.
According to security officials, Najar was planning a large-scale terror attack inside Israel. “His assassination will hopefully prevent that attack,” one official said.
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The Islamic Jihad al-Quds Brigades issued a statement following the missile strike.
"All options in response to the crime are available to us,” the statement said. “Our martyr’s blood will not be spilled in vain. We will respond at the right time and place.”
The IDF said the targeted killing had been carried out in coordination with the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency). It came just after Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned that Israel would respond aggressively to Palestinian attacks from the Gaza Strip. On Tuesday morning, a rocket landed just south of Ashkelon, a day after four rockets hit southern Israel.
“I want to tell the other side – Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Popular Resistance Committees – that I recommend they don’t test us,” Barak said during a meeting with paratroopers stationed along the Gaza Border. “If the rocket fire against us continues, there will be more attacks on the other side as well.”