(Ha'aretz) Ze'ev Schiff - There were two separate operations on Monday. The first was based on solid intelligence about a warehouse containing explosives and Kassam rockets. The first bomb was only a partial hit. The Palestinians immediately transported the remaining explosives to another warehouse, in two cars. The air force tracked the cars, found the warehouse, and hit one of the two cars. On Tuesday a jet returned and demolished the first warehouse. In the second operation, information arrived Monday night that the Palestinians meant to get one or two suicide bombers over the fence, with a crane. The first group of terrorists was hit by an IDF ambush. The second car escaped and was chased by an IDF helicopter. A missile fired at the car stopped it in the middle of a main road. The defense minister and chief of staff authorized the launch of another missile, which caused the car to explode. Shin Bet sources do not confirm the same number of casualties reported by the Palestinians. The IAF and Shin Bet say they have confirmed the death of seven Palestinians, all of whom are Hamas activists. This is not the last operation of the Air Force in the Gaza Strip; briefings for new operations are already underway.
2003-10-22 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive