Two Hamas militants killed in latest clash with Israeli soldiers in Gaza

Name of Beduin man killed in rocket attack near Dimona cleared for publication; IDF says it has targeted 350 terror sites, 34 tunnels since the start of the ground offensive Thursday.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Gaza border, July 18 (photo credit: BEN HARTMAN)
Gaza border, July 18
(photo credit: BEN HARTMAN)
Two Hamas terrorists fired at IDF soldiers in southern Gaza Saturday afternoon. The IDF returned fire and killed the attackers, the IDF said.
There were no injuries among Israeli security forces. The incident comes after an an Israeli officer from the Nahal brigade was seriously wounded in a gun battle with Hamas militants overnight.
The IDF said that from the start of the ground operation on Thursday, 350 terror sites have been destroyed and 34 tunnels have been discovered.
Meanwhile, Saturday morning saw additional clashes as a Hamas terrorist squad attempted to enter Israel through a smuggling tunnel from central Gaza. The militant group was aiming to enter an Israeli community across the border but encountered an IDF patrol, and an exchange of fire ensued. One terrorist was killed and four IDF soldiers were wounded.
The Israeli Air Force struck members of the cell after they escaped back into Gaza. The IDF said an attempt to murder Israeli civilians was thwarted.
The name of the man who died from a rocket attack in southern Israel Saturday morning was cleared for publication. Uda Aluj from a village near Dimona was in his early 30s. Three others sustained injuries in the Dimona attack, including a four-year-old girl, and were evacuated to a hospital. The Beduin man's funeral was underway.  
Rocket launches at southern Israel continued Saturday afternoon, as rockets exploded in open areas in the Negev and sirens wailed in communities near the Gaza border.