Jerusalem – Israeli tank fired artillery shells at Gaza militants on Thursday afternoon, after discovery of a cross-border Hamas tunnel triggered more mortar fire from Palestinian enclave at soldiers near the border.
Local media reported in Jerusalem that the mortars were aimed at soldiers and heavy machinery near the tunnel.
A military spokesperson confirmed that at least two mortar rounds were fired at forces during operational activity adjacent to the security fence in the southern Gaza Strip.
He said that no soldiers were injured in the incident.
The officer stated that forces were operating on the tunnel to learn its route, adding that the tunnel was expected to be destroyed in the next few days.
He said that the army considered the 28-meter-deep tunnel as an “offensive tunnel” that Gaza militants constructed with the aim of attacking Israel in the future.
Meanwhile, official report from Palestina stated that four Palestinians, including three children, were injured in airstrikes by Israeli war jets early on Thursday.
It said that the latest fire exchange came less than two hours after the military announced that it had uncovered a Hamas tunnel extending from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory.
It was the second cross-border tunnel being found since the 2014 Gaza War. On April 18, Israel said it had uncovered and destroyed a tunnel built by Hamas. (Xinhua/NAN)
