Israeli’s military said Thursday it thwarted a terror attack from about 13 Hamas terrorists who were discovered crossing into the Jewish nation’s borders via a tunnel from Gaza.
Military officials saw the group and launched an immediate aerial attack.
A spokesman for Israel’s military could not say with certainty how many of the 13 were killed, but added that several tried to make a run for the tunnel when they discovered they had been exposed, The New York Times reported. Israelis in the neighborhoods closest to the exit mouth of the tunnel were told to remain in their homes.
Hamas took responsibility for the infiltration on its website, bragging that a group of special forces had managed to steal behind “enemy lines newer Sufa,” but fell in heavy fire after the “completion of its mission,” The Times reported.
The post on the Hamas website didn’t elaborate on the mission details. Hamas also said all its fighters were able to escape and return home.
The tunnel fiasco occurred shortly before Hamas and Israel agreed to a brief cease-fire, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, per the request of the United Nations. The brief lull was aimed at giving civilians in Gaza the chance to receive crucial supplies.
SEE ALSO: Mortars fired at Israel during Gaza cease-fire
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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