Three Islamic Jihad members killed in latest Gaza air strike

Earlier air strikes wound 5 terrorists; Hamas gunman also killed as IDF targets Gaza Strip, destroy 2 rocket launchers; 2 Kassams hit Negev.

By JPOST STAFF, AP
IAF copter cool 298.88 (photo credit: IDF [file])
IAF copter cool 298.88
(photo credit: IDF [file])
Three Islamic Jihad terrorists were killed in an Israeli air strike targeting a car south of Gaza City on Thursday, the organization said. The IDF confirmed the airstrike. Witnesses said the men were travelling in a jeep when it was hit by a missile. Islamic Jihad said three of its senior commanders, including the head of its military wing in the Gaza Strip, were killed in the attack. Earlier, troops, backed up by aircraft, tanks and bulldozers launched an offensive in Gaza, killing a member of Hamas's military wing, wounding several other Palestinian operatives and striking Kassam rocket launchers. In the morning hours in southern Gaza, Golani Brigade troops killed a Hamas operative who was armed with a rocket-propelled grenade, the IDF said. Hamas and Palestinian medical officials claimed the operative was killed by IDF tank fire when he tried to confront a tank near the town of Al Fukhari, east of Khan Yunis. Later, IAF aircraft fired a missile towards Islamic Jihad gunmen who were driving in the area, lightly wounding three, according to the group and other witnesses. The army confirmed the air strike. The IAF also fired at two Palestinian terrorists planning to fire a Kassam rocket from the northern Gaza Strip. The two Palestinians as well as two rocket launchers were hit in the air strike. Earlier, Palestinians reported that a gunman was moderately wounded by IDF fire in Beit Hanun, adding that troops arrested five Palestinian operatives in the area. Meanwhile, Israel Radio reported that Hamas was collecting tax funds from Palestinian traders in the Gaza Strip. The tax funds were recently released by Israel in order to ease the humanitarian crisis in the Strip but the funds were supposed to bypass Hamas. Also Thursday, two Kassam rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip at the western Negev. One of the rockets fell near a gas station. No one was wounded and there were no reports of damage.