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Source : Haaretz

Israel launches first aerial strike on Gaza since November truce

Mercredi 3 avril 2013 - 00 H 20 AM

mercredi 3 avril 2013

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Israel launches first aerial strike on Gaza since November truce

The strike near the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya came after militants in the Gaza Strip fired two mortar shells at the western Negev earlier on Tuesday.

By Gili Cohen and Eli Ashkenazi | Apr.03, 2013 | 12:12 AM

The Israel Air Force launched an aerial strike on the Gaza Strip on Tuesday night, the first such attack since Israel and the coastal territory’s Hamas rulers declared a truce after Operation Pillar of Defense last November.

The strike near the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya came after militants in the Gaza Strip fired two mortar shells at the western Negev earlier on Tuesday.

Also on Tuesday, the IDF launched tank shells into Syria after an Israeli patrol in the Golan Heights came under gunfire near Tel Hazeka. Shortly before that incident, a mortar shell landed near an IDF jeep near Tel Fares, in the Golan. The jeep sustained light damage, but there were no casualties.

Last week, IDF troops fired a retaliatory missile into Syrian territory near the Golan Heights and destroyed a machinegun position, in response to two security incidents in less than 24 hours. At least two Syrian soldiers were wounded from that Israeli fire.

Ya’alon toured northern Israel along the border with Syria earlier Tuesday, accompanied by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz and GOC Northern Command Maj. Gen. Yair Golan in his visit to various military bases in the north, including the one hit by cross-border fire from Syria last week.

Golan briefed Ya’alon on IDF protocols involving cross-border fire during their tour, saying that the military only responds when the shooting is continual and after a warning is delivered to UN peacekeeping forces.

Ya’alon, meanwhile, said that while Israel would not intervene in the Syrian crisis, it would respond to any violation of its security interests.

« Across the border a bloody civil war has been taking place for the past two years with tens of thousands dead, but we will not intervene as long as the fighting does not affect our security interests, » Ya’alon said. « When it does, whether the sporadic shooting is intentional or not, we will respond, just as we did last week. »

Ya’alon also that Israel was determined to prevent the transfer of arms from Syria to Hezbollah. « We have acted and will continue to act to thwart the transfer of weapons to the hands of irresponsible elements, » he said.

The new defense minister hinted that Israel was behind an aerial attack two months ago that targeted a weapons convoy in Syria, possibly confirming foreign media reports.

Former Defense Minister Ehud Barak had also previously hinted that Israel was responsible for the attack, telling the media at a European security conference that « what happened in Syria proves that when we say something we mean it – we will not allow advance weapon system to be transferred to Lebanon. »

Far away from the border with Israel, fierce battles raged Tuesday between Syrian rebels and government forces across eastern districts of Damascus, activists said.

Five shells fell on the north-eastern neighborhood of Barzeh, inflicting casualties, the pro-government al-Dunia television station also reported without giving details.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based opposition organization, said at least four people from the same family were killed in the shelling on Barzeh, where it said there was heavy fighting.

Clashes and shelling were also taking place in parts of the Jobar district near al-Abbasiyeen square on the eastern fringe of central Damascus, the opposition group said.

Fighting has increased in southern and eastern Damascus since late March, and rebel mortar attacks on government-held areas have intensified. Last week, rebels warned civilians to evacuate areas near government buildings and security installations.