Israeli launches airstrikes in Gaza

GAZA CITY – Israeli aircraft launched an assault on the radical Islamic Jihad organisation from the skies over Gaza late on Monday and early yesterday, killing the group’s overall commander and nine other members in three fiery strikes.

A fourth attack on a security post in southern Gaza killed two Hamas militants, that group said. The heavy death toll is part of a stepped-up Israeli offensive against Gaza militants who fire near-daily rocket barrages at southern Israeli border communities.Islamic Jihad, a small radical group with ties to Iran, has taken responsibility for most of the barrages, including one that lightly wounded a 2-year-old boy in an Israeli village this week.Four of the Islamic Jihad militants were targeted as they emerged from morning prayers Tuesday at a northern Gaza mosque.Six others died when Israeli aircraft blasted two cars in Gaza City after nightfall on Monday.Nampa-APThe heavy death toll is part of a stepped-up Israeli offensive against Gaza militants who fire near-daily rocket barrages at southern Israeli border communities.Islamic Jihad, a small radical group with ties to Iran, has taken responsibility for most of the barrages, including one that lightly wounded a 2-year-old boy in an Israeli village this week.Four of the Islamic Jihad militants were targeted as they emerged from morning prayers Tuesday at a northern Gaza mosque.Six others died when Israeli aircraft blasted two cars in Gaza City after nightfall on Monday.Nampa-AP