IAF strikes tunnels in Gaza

Palestinian witnesses reported Friday evening of hearing loud explosions in northern Gaza, near Jabaliya and Gaza City's eastern neighborhoods.

The IDF Spokesperson's Office confirmed that the Air Force (IAF) had carried out strikes on tunnels dug in the northern Strip, and said they were intended for the smuggling of terrorists into Israel.

The tunnels were said to have been dug about a kilometer from the border fence. Direct hits were identified.

According to the sources in Gaza, the IDF targeted a rocket-launching cell but failed to hit the gunmen. The sources further claimed that four people were injured in the strike, but the report was not verified by medical officials in the coastal enclave.

Palestinian sources also reported that a group of Hamas observers were bombed in the area of Khan Younis. A strike was also reported to have been carried out in the eastern part of Gaza City. No injuries were reported in either case.

Earlier Friday, two mortars were fired from northern Gaza towards Israel's western Negev region. There were no reports of injury or damage.

One of the shells landed in an open area within Sdot Negev Regional Council limits, while the other landed in Palestinian territory, near the Kerem Shalom border crossing.

The Salah a-Din Brigades, the armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committees, claimed responsibility attacks, claiming it had fired a total of five mortars towards Israel.