GAZA, Oct. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli troops shot dead three
Palestinians, including a 12-year-old boy, early Friday at a
predawn ground military operation into the town of Rafah and its
refugee camp on the borders between Gaza Strip and Egypt, security
sources reported.

   The sources and witnesses said at least 25 Israeli army tanks
and armored vehicles stormed at predawn on Friday the southern Gaza
Strip refugee camp of Rafah near the borders with Egypt.

   The tanks got out from the Jewish settlement of Morag near the
town of Rafah and began to roll into the area amid intensive
gunfire at the houses, they added.

   Local medical sources also said that three Palestinians were
killed and 18 others injured, six of them are in serious
conditions.

   During the Israeli army operation, Palestinian militants and
Israeli soldiers exchanged fire. The soldiers were backed by attack
helicopters and the militants fired several anti tanks missiles.

   Israeli Radio reported that a large Israeli armed force rolled
into the Rafah refugee camp on a mission to destroy tunnels used
for smuggling arms.

   Witnesses and military sources were quoted as saying the tanks
and armored vehicles entered Rafah from two directions, adding that
they were accompanied by special forces, including engineering
units.

   The Palestinian security sources said that it is the widest
ground operation that Israeli army is carrying for several months
into one of the most overcrowded towns in the Gaza Strip.

   The Israeli soldiers were accompanied by dog. Israeli army
sources told the radio that the dog are trained to uncover
underground tunnels Israel believes the Palestinians use to smuggle
weapons.  Enditem