Israeli F-16 fighters hit Palestinian targets
( 2001-08-26 11:50 ) (7 )

Israeli F-16 jets fired two missiles at Palestinian police headquarters in Gaza City early on Sunday, wounding three Palestinian policemen and causing heavy damage, Palestinian security officials said.

The officials said planes had also hit a Palestinian military intelligence post in Deir al-Balah, south of Gaza. There was no immediate report of casualties.

An Israeli Army statement said the jets had successfully attacked the Palestinian Blue (civilian) police headquarters in Gaza City, military intelligence and Blue police headquarters in Deir al-Balah, and Palestinian police headquarters in Salfit village south of Nablus on the West Bank.

The statement said the raids were in response to Palestinian attacks on Saturday in which an officer and two soldiers were killed and seven soldiers wounded in the Gaza Strip, and two civilians were killed and three wounded on the Modiin Road.

A Palestinian security official called the strikes "a very grave aggression from the Israeli Army" and said they would lead to a "very dangerous situation" in the area.

The Israeli statement said "direct hits were recorded on the targets and the planes returned safely to base".

The statement said the Israeli military "will do everything in its power to ensure the safety of Israeli civilians and its forces".

Palestinian officials said that Israeli tanks and bulldozers had pulled back after incursions in the Palestinian-ruled area at Rafah in the southern Gaza strip.

Hospital officials said a Palestinian policeman was killed and at least two Palestinians were wounded in fighting.