"The Syrians continue to sponsor terror organizations operating out of Damascus, providing both logistical and financial backings,"a senior Israeli military official was quoted as saying.

   "It is not the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) departments of these organizations sitting in Damascus. It is their operational commands," the source said.

   A total of 16 people were killed and around 90 others injured when two suicide bombers blew themselves up almost simultaneously on two buses in Beersheva Tuesday afternoon.

   Hamas claimed responsibility for the attacks, which were the first suicide bombings inside Israel in over five months.

   In response to the attack, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops raided the home of one bomber in the West Bank city of Hebron and arrested 12 Palestinians overnight.

   In addition, the Israeli forces have imposed a full closure on the Gaza Strip after capturing a Palestinian carrying explosives at the Erez Crossing Tuesday.

   Palestinian workers have also been banned from working in Israel or in the Erez industrial zone until further notice.  Enditem