At least seven killed, scores wounded in cross-border attack in Israel

Jerusalem,Aug 19(ANI): Atleast seven people were killed and scores wounded in a series of militant attacks from across the Egyptian border

It is the first serious cross-border incident since the ouster of Israel's important ally, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, in February.

In the first attack, miltants targeted a bus Image 1 of 3 Graphic on Bombing in Israel Image 1 of 3 A plume of smoke rises above Gaza City after Israeli air strikes Photo: GETTY carrying civilians and soldiers from Beersheba to the tourist resort of Eilat close to the Egyptian border.

Three terrorists disguised as the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) personnel also fired at a second bus, using rifles and rocket propelled grenades.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the assaults were "extremely serious and violated Israel's sovereignity", and promised retaliation.

The authorities claimed the militant squads had travelled from Gaza into Egypt and recrossed the lightly manned desert border from the Sinai peninsula.

"What we know for a fact is that the attack was organized by a terror squad that infiltrated Israel from Gaza. We know this form our intelligence information and from the soldiers currently engaged in gunfire with the terrorists," the Telegraph quoted a spokeswoman, Lt Col Avital Leibovich, as saying.

The Israeli army's 80th Division retaliated by killing seven militants. They found an explosive device strapped to one of the bodies.

Mortar shells were also fired from the Gaza strip at Israeli soldiers carrying out maintenance work on the security fence that separates Israel and Egypt. Israeli troops immediately sealed off the area.

Lt Col Leibovich said army intelligence could not yet confirm any connection with the attacks to a recent spike in militant activity in the Sinai.

However, militant groups have taken advantage of the weakened security situation.

"The event reflects the weakening of the Egyptian hold on Sinai and the expansion of terrorist action in the area", Israel Defence Minister Ehud Barak said.(ANI)