Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz said on Tuesday that Israel will strike back against the Qassam rocket attacks from the Palestinian militants.

"The security forces will continue to act against Qassam rocket attacks, irrelevant of which organization is behind them," the Jerusalem Post quoted Mofaz as saying.

His remarks came after two members of Fatah's Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades were killed Tuesday in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City.

The latest targeted killing brings the number of Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes over the past three days to nine.

Israel has recently stepped up airstrikes aimed at Palestinian militants said to be connected to firing Qassam rockets at Israel from northern Gaza.

Three Qassam rockets landed Tuesday in Israeli territory north of the Gaza Strip. The rockets damaged buildings, but there were no injuries.

One rocket landed at around 2 p.m. near a soccer field and caused damage to it. Another rocket landed at a nearby open field.

The Israeli forces had been shelling and conducting air raids on the Gaza Strip since Monday night, aimed at Qassam launch areas.

Palestinian militant groups threatened to retaliate with more attacks.

"Our answer is open war on all Zionists, soldiers and civilians, " said Al-Aqsa spokesman Abu Qusai.

Islamic Jihad, an organization behind most suicide bombings against Israelis in the past year, vowed revenge.

"We gave instructions to all our activists in the West Bank and Gaza to strike the enemy everywhere. There is no border and no limit to our response," said Jihad Sawfriri, a top Islamic Jihad militant.

Source: Xinhua