Last update - 00:00 08/01/2008
Hamas says its forces traded fire with Israel Navy boats off Gaza
By The Associated Press
Hamas forces on shore traded fire with Israel Navy boats off Gaza's southern coast Tuesday, and an Israeli missile landed in nearby Egyptian territory, Hamas said.
During the exchange of fire south of the town of Rafah, an Israel Air Force Apache helicopter fired two missiles at the Hamas forces in a security post, Hamas said. One missed a car and the second struck inside Egypt, it said.
There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Hamas said it shot at the boats after militants were fired upon, and the IDF said it was acting against weapons smuggling from Egypt.
The Israel Defense Forces could not immediately say what was happening in the area. There was no immediate reaction from Egypt.
IDF forces frequently conduct operations in the Gaza Strip to thwart rocket fire rom the volatile area, which the Islamic militant Hamas took over in June.
IDF kills two militants in Gaza, one in Jenin
In the Gaza Strip on Monday, IDF soldiers killed a Palestinian man and woman near the Erez Crossing. The IDF said the two were planning to carry out a terror attack. The man was named as Bassam Abu Mostafa.
Also on Monday, in the West Bank, an Islamic Jihad operative from the village of Yamun was killed by IDF fire in clashes with troops near Jenin.
Related articles: