Israeli Jets Blast Weapons Tunnels, Rocket Launch Pads, Squads In Gaza

Jerusalem, Israel (AHN) - Israeli warplanes bombed 55 tunnels used for smuggling weapons and 20 rocket launch positions across Gaza Strip on Tuesday in the 18th day of Israel's offensive against Hamas militants in the Palestinian territory.

Palestinian medical officials said 18 gunmen and three civilians were killed in the airstrikes but the Israeli military claimed killing 30 Hamas militants. Three Israeli troops were wounded when a booby-trapped house exploded in Gaza City.

Israel Defense Force soldiers engaged about 15 squads of gunmen, including militants firing from a mosque and from two tunnels in northern Gaza. The soldiers destroyed the tunnels leading into Israeli territory and believed to be used by Hamas for kidnapping Israeli citizens or soldiers.