11 Aug 2009

Israeli jets bomb Gaza tunnel

9:49 am on 11 August 2009

Israeli planes have bombed a smuggling tunnel into Gaza after Palestinian mortars fell near the main crossing from Gaza into Israel.

The Israeli military said two mortar shells landed a few hundred metres from Erez crossing as urgent Palestinian medical cases were being transferred.

The BBC reports it was the first such airstrike since mid-June, with Palestinian rocket attacks much reduced in recent months. No casualties were reported in any of the incidents.

The Israeli military said the air strike early on Monday morning was in response to "continued" rocket and mortar fire.

In addition to the mortar attack on Sunday afternoon, the military said a rocket was fired into Israel on Sunday morning.

The Israeli military has often targeted the tunnels through which goods are smuggled from Egypt into Gaza, bypassing an economic blockade of the territory.

Israel says weapons are also transferred through the tunnels.

The Israeli military says about 700 rockets and mortars have been fired into Israel since the start of the year - which includes most of Israel's 22-day military offensive in December and January.