Rockets, airstrikes follow Palestinian attack on Israel
CNS News
Friday, August 19, 2011 
Israeli soldiers secure roads near the site of several attacks in the Arava desert, near the southern Israeli resort town of Eilat, on Friday, Aug. 19, 2011. On Thursday, gunmen who appear to have originated in Gaza and who crossed into southern Israel through the Egyptian desert ambushed civilian vehicles traveling on a remote road in southern Israel, killing 6 civilians and 2 security officials. (AP Photo/Dan Balilty)
JERUSALEM (AP) - Gaza militants launched barrages of rockets deep into Israel early Friday and Israeli aircraft struck targets in the Palestinian territory in the aftermath of the deadliest attack against Israelis in three years.
On Thursday, gunmen who appear to have originated in Gaza and who crossed into southern Israel through the Egyptian desert ambushed civilian vehicles traveling on a remote road in southern Israel, killing eight people. Six were civilians, and two were members of Israeli security forces responding to the incursion.
The attack signaled a new danger for Israel from its border with the Sinai Peninsula, long quiet under the rule of Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak. Mubarak was deposed in February and the desert of the Sinai Peninsula -- always restive and largely controlled by Bedouin tribes -- has become increasingly lawless.
Israel responded hours after the attack with an airstrike that killed five members of the Palestinian group that Israel said was behind it, an organization known as the Popular Resistance Committees. The dead included the group's leader.
A spokesman for the group, Abu Mujahid, would not confirm or deny responsibility for the attack inside Israel, but said militants would avenge the killing of the men in Gaza.
Hamas denied any connection with the attacks, but hurriedly evacuated all of its security facilities Thursday in anticipation of more Israeli retaliation. Those strikes continued through the night, targeting what the military said were smuggling tunnels and sites used by gunmen.
Hamas officials said two children, 3 and 13, were killed in the Israeli strikes.
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