Palestinian gunmen kill three Israeli troops including officer

GAZA, July 21 (KUNA) -- Palestinian resistance groups were firing rockets at Israel areas as well as attacking occupation ground forces at the eastern outskirts of Gaza City on Monday, killing Hamas military wing said.
Ezz-Eddine Al-Qassam Brigades said its fighters killed five Israeli soldiers and injured others in clashes in the eastern outskirts of Khan Younus, southern Gaza, tonight.
The Israel army investigated the attack and concluded that a group of Al-Qassam fighters succeeded in infiltrating, through a tunnel, behind the forces and they were wearing full military uniform which made it hard to recognize their true identities.
The Palestinian gunmen opened fire at an Israeli force killing four soldiers including a Lt. Cololnel and injuring others, the Israeli radio said, contrary to Al-Qassam's numbers.
An Israeli helicopter gunship attacked the Palestinian gunmen and killed nine of them, it added The brigades, in its statements that were released this evening, claimed responsibility for a rocket attack against Tel Aviv, while shelling Ashdod with 14 Grad and Qassam rockets.
Al-Qassam gunmen, meanwhile, fired tens of Grad rockets at Beersheba in southern Israel.
Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, said it shelled Erez crossing, and other areas with 20 rockets.
Al-Nasser Salahuddin Brigades, the armed wing of the popular resistance committees, said it fired three rockets at Sderot town as well as Israeli forces in east of Gaza. (pickup previous) mzt.bs