[Ynet News] Hanan Greenberg - IDF forces operated in Gaza Tuesday night to collapse a tunnel located 250 meters from the border, which terror groups intended to use for kidnapping Israeli soldiers. Palestinian sources reported that six gunmen were killed in the clashes that ensued during the operation. Six IDF soldiers were wounded. The IDF force arrived at a structure near al-Bureij and a fierce gunbattle ensued. Shortly afterwards a loud explosion occurred. The army said the intensity of the blast was due to the large amount of explosives stored in the building. After mortar shells were fired at the troops during the operation, the Air Force launched two separate strikes on cells launching mortar shells, killing at least five Hamas gunmen. IDF sources said the operation was "an innately defensive one and not an offensive one." A senior military source called the incident "a ticking tunnel," adding that "this is a pinpoint operation." Palestinian sources said IDF forces had recently arrested a Palestinian who was hurt while attempting to carry out a suicide bombing in the same area and they assumed the man told the security forces about the tunnel. "The IDF is committed to maintaining the ceasefire and is acting accordingly," Ynet was told. "In this case, we had a credible threat indicating soldiers might be kidnapped and we had no choice but to act in order to thwart it." Security sources said that risking a kidnapping attempt "was not an option."
2008-11-05 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive