An IDF soldier was seriously wounded Wednesday during clashes with Palestinian gunmen in the northern Gaza Strip. One soldier sustained moderate injuries and five others were lightly injured.
The troops were evacuated to hospitals in Israel and their families have been notified.
The soldiers were hurt after gunmen fired an antitank missile at a paratroopers unit operating near Gaza City.
The Israel Defense Forces attacked about 60 different targets in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday night, including Hamas' police headquarters, several terrorist cells and arms smuggling tunnels.
Three officers and three soldiers were lightly to moderately injured in exchanges of fire with Palestinian terrorists. Two of the officers sustained moderate wounds, and the rest were lightly hurt, including a regiment commander.
The main incident took place during a paratroopers' force patrol in the northern Strip. The force arrived at a building and was fired on from small-arms. In addition, several grenades were hurled at the soldiers.
The force fired back at the gunmen. Lieutenant-Colonel Avi Blot, commander of the 101st Regiment, was lightly injured by shrapnel. Two other officers were moderately injured, and two soldiers sustained light wounds. Another soldier was lightly injured by shrapnel in a separate incident.
At least two terrorists were killed in the exchanges of fire, and 10 gunmen were hit altogether during the nigh operation. The injured troops were evacuated to Israeli hospital for treatment.