IAF helicopter  (illustrative only)
IAF helicopter (illustrative only)Israel news photo: IAF website

Israeli fighter pilots eliminated an Islamic Jihad terrorist cell Wednesday night in retaliation for a Qassam rocket attack on a Jewish community in southern Israel.

At about 5:20 p.m., Gaza terrorists again disrupted the lives of residents in the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council district, launching a rocket that exploded in an open area near a kibbutz. No one was physically injured, and no damage was reported from the attack.

Retaliation was not long in coming.

Shortly after 9:00 p.m., the Israel Air Force sent fighter pilots to respond with an air strike aimed at a car traveling in northern Gaza, near Deir al-Balah.

Israeli pilots confirmed a direct hit, and all personnel returned to base safely.

PA sources reported the targeted terrorist in the car was killed. One of the sources told reporters that all the passengers in the car were members of the military wing of the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization.