Mortars hit Ashkelon Coast; 2 lightly injured

Two people were lightly hurt Tuesday, as mortar shells fired from the northern Gaza Strip hit the Ashkelon Coast Regional Council.

A nearby building sustained damages.

Several hours prior to the shooting, Palestinian sources reported two Hamas operatives were killed in clashes with IDF forces near the central Gaza Strip.

The IDF Spokesperson's Unit confirmed operating against terror infrastructure in Gaza, adding that Palestinians gunmen opened fire on troops patrolling the area.

The soldiers then returned fire, hitting the two gunmen. No casualties were reported among the Israeli troops.

According to the IDF, several armed gunmen were arrested in the operation and turned over to security forces for further questioning.

IDF data regarding mortar shell and rocket fire at Israel in the past few months have raised some concerns, as they indicated that the Islamic Jihad in now capable of manufacturing rockets similar to Grad rockets and ranging some 12.5 miles. These new rockets can apparently inflict a much deadlier blow than the average Qassam.