IAF chopper strikes Gaza terrorists after attack on Israel

Army says chopper struck terrorists 'few seconds' after high-trajectory fire directed at Israel; Palestinians say terrorists unharmed. Three mortars hit Negev, no injuries

Elior Levy|Published: 01.21.12 , 09:17

An Israel Air Force helicopter struck terrorists in Gaza "a few seconds" after high-trajectory fire was directed at Israeli territory,” the IDF Spokesperson's Unit reported Saturday morning, adding that the chopper recorded a direct hit.

Earlier, three mortars were fired from northern Gaza towards the Negev's Eshkol Regional Council. There were no reports of injury or damage.

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Friday night saw a Qassam rocket fired from Gaza land in an open area in the Negev. There were no reports of injury or damage in that attack either.

Prior to the release of the statement by the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, Palestinian sources in Gaza said Israeli aircraft were unsuccessful in two attempts to strike a group of armed gunmen travelling east of Rafah in the Hamas-ruled territory. According to the report, the gunmen were unharmed.

The army said following Saturday's strike in Gaza that it would not tolerate "any attempt to harm Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers, and will continue to operate with strength and determination against anyone who uses terror against the State of Israel. Hamas is solely responsible for any terrorist activity emanating from the Gaza Strip."

On Wednesday the army reported that two Palestinians were killed when aircraft and tanks opened fire on a terror cell near the security fence separating Israel from the Palestinian enclave.

Last week Popular Resistance Committee operative Khaled al-Qeisi, 38, was killed during an explosion that occurred in the home of the terror group's secretary general, Zuher al-Qeisi.

The PRC said Zuher al-Qeisi was not home during the blast.

Ilana Curiel contributed to the report

You can contact Elior Levy, Ynet's Palestinian Affairs Correspondent, at: paldesk@gmail.com