Israeli troops intrude into northern Gaza towns

Israeli tanks, armored vehicles and bulldozers rolled about one km into northeastern Gaza Strip town of Biet Lahila on Tuesday, Palestinian security sources said.

The incursion came after a predawn intrusion into northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun, which the Israeli army said was carried out to search for tunnels and bombs.

There was no report of casualties during the incursion.

Israel launched a ground and air operation in the Gaza Strip on June 28 to rescue a soldier abducted in a deadly Palestinian militants attack on June 25.

Eight Palestinian gunmen had infiltrated an Israeli army post near the southern Gaza border via a tunnel, killing two soldiers and kidnapping a third one.

Earlier Tuesday, Hamas' armed wing al-Qassam Brigades, which claimed responsibility for the attack, fired a home-made rocket at an Israeli army position on eastern Gaza border.

The group said in a leaflet that the rocket attack was part of "Operation Independents Faith" to counter ongoing Israeli Summer Rain operation in Gaza.

Source: Xinhua