Security forces have been searching since the early morning hours for a terrorist cell that fired shots and threw grenades at an Israeli vehicle north of Eilat close to 4 AM this morning. Grenades were also thrown at the army forces that arrived on the scene. The forces include infantry, helicopters and Border Guard police.
Although it was not originally clear whether the terrorists came from Jordan or Egypt, preliminary investigations now show that two terrorists infiltrated from Egypt along the road leading from Eilat to the west, and then hid in the Red Canyon mountains, some ten minutes' drive from Eilat. No one was wounded in the attack, though the targeted vehicle was damaged.
After last night's fatal shooting attack near Kisufim, the IDF began an offensive in southern Gaza to locate and destroy arms-smuggling tunnels. "The locals run the tunnels-business for economic reasons, and our job is to destroy them faster than they can build them," the commander of the mission said today. The Israeli force, accompanied by tanks, armored cars, and helicopters came under attack, and eight Arabs have been killed in the operation; no one was hurt on the Israeli side. The IDF forces have so far managed to blow up or seal several tunnels during the operation.
On Friday night, IDF and Shabak agents caught 22 members of Hamas terrorist cell responsible for the murder of ten Israelis. Among their victims: three patrolling soldiers in Ein Yabrud, across from Ofrah, in October 2003; Shalom Har-Melekh near Kokhav HaShachar four months ago; and Gideon Lichterman near Shilo in May of this year. The weapons of the three soldiers, as well as other arms taken in other attacks, were found in the cell's possession. The cell apparently planned to abduct and kill IDF soldiers, holding their bodies for ransom.
In other terrorist incidents since last night, a Border Guard policeman in Hevron was wounded lightly in his shoulder as he was driving in the city last night. The incident occurred at what is known as the "160 bend," where Egged bus #160 makes a sharp turn between Hevron and Kiryat Arba.
Although it was not originally clear whether the terrorists came from Jordan or Egypt, preliminary investigations now show that two terrorists infiltrated from Egypt along the road leading from Eilat to the west, and then hid in the Red Canyon mountains, some ten minutes' drive from Eilat. No one was wounded in the attack, though the targeted vehicle was damaged.
After last night's fatal shooting attack near Kisufim, the IDF began an offensive in southern Gaza to locate and destroy arms-smuggling tunnels. "The locals run the tunnels-business for economic reasons, and our job is to destroy them faster than they can build them," the commander of the mission said today. The Israeli force, accompanied by tanks, armored cars, and helicopters came under attack, and eight Arabs have been killed in the operation; no one was hurt on the Israeli side. The IDF forces have so far managed to blow up or seal several tunnels during the operation.
On Friday night, IDF and Shabak agents caught 22 members of Hamas terrorist cell responsible for the murder of ten Israelis. Among their victims: three patrolling soldiers in Ein Yabrud, across from Ofrah, in October 2003; Shalom Har-Melekh near Kokhav HaShachar four months ago; and Gideon Lichterman near Shilo in May of this year. The weapons of the three soldiers, as well as other arms taken in other attacks, were found in the cell's possession. The cell apparently planned to abduct and kill IDF soldiers, holding their bodies for ransom.
In other terrorist incidents since last night, a Border Guard policeman in Hevron was wounded lightly in his shoulder as he was driving in the city last night. The incident occurred at what is known as the "160 bend," where Egged bus #160 makes a sharp turn between Hevron and Kiryat Arba.