Islamists stage border attack, infiltrate into Israel
Global jihad terrorists infiltrated into Israel on Sunday
night after breaking into an Egyptian military base and stealing two armored
jeeps.
One of the vehicles exploded as it rammed through the
Kerem Shalom Crossing into Israel and another crossed through, after which it
was targeted by an Israel Air Force strike. Simultaneously, dozens of mortar
shells rained down on nearby communities.
Al Arabiya reported that 15 Egyptian soldiers were killed
in the attack on their base and several more were wounded.
The attack began at around 8 PM, likely in retaliation to
an Israeli airstrike earlier in the day against a global jihad terror cell
which the IDF said was in the final stages of launching an attack against
Israel along the Egyptian border. One terrorist was killed in the strike and
another was seriously injured.
The IDF ordered residents of communities in the Eshkol
Region to remain inside their homes and shut down Road 232, which runs along
the border.
Palestinians reported that the IDF was firing tank shells
into southern Gaza, likely part of an effort to suppress the mortar fire. In
addition, the Israel Air Force struck back at targets in southern Gaza.
IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Yoav Mordechai told reporters
that the IDF was still searching the area to rule out the possibility that
additional terrorists remained in Israel. Mordechai said that the IDF has ruled
out the possibility that a soldier was kidnapped although it was possible that
the attack was aimed at abducting a soldier. The IDF spokesman later said in an
interview with Army Radio that at least three terrorists were killed during the
infiltration attempt.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Sunday night that the
incident put renewed emphasis on the need for Egypt to impose security and
prevent terror in Sinai. Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy called an urgent
meeting of Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to discuss the attack.
Hamas condemned the attack on Egyptian soldiers, calling
it an "ugly crime" and adding the group's "deep condolences to
the families of the victims and to the leadership and the people of
Egypt."
The fresh round of violence came hours after the Israeli
Air Force bombed a motorbike in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, striking a global
jihad terrorist who the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) said had been
plotting a terror attack along the Egyptian border for weeks. Palestinian
hospital officials said the man, Ahmed Ismail, 22, was seriously injured, and
his assistant, Eid Okel Hjazi, a 19-year-old from Rafah, was killed.
Security sources said the terrorist was Ahmed Said
Ismail, 22, from the Gaza Strip. They said he was part of the group that
carried out the attack in June that killed an Israeli workman, and was in the
midst of planning another attack against Israel along the border.
Security sources said it was possible the strike thwarted
the terror attack. IDF spokesman Brigadier Gen. Yoav Mordechai said they were
in the "advanced and final stages of launching an attack on the Eilat -
Egyptian border."
Military sources added that global jihad elements were
taking advantage of regional instability, in particular in Egypt and Syria, to
create infrastructure that can be used to attack Israel.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu issued a statement
praising the IDF and the Shin Bet for the "precise operation" in
Gaza.
"All those who intend to harm us should know our
long arm will reach them," he said.
Israel is increasingly concerned with the presence of
global jihad operatives in the Sinai Peninsula and their ties with Palestinian
terrorists in the Gaza Strip.
Several terror cells are believed to consist of
Palestinians from the Gaza Strip as well as global jihad operatives from
various Arab countries throughout the Middle East.
Last week, the Counter-Terrorism Bureau urged Israeli
tourists in Sinai to return to Israel immediately because terrorists are planning
to abduct Israelis from the peninsula.
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