GAZA, Sept. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- Palestinian militants fired on Wednesday morning three homemade al-Qassam rockets at southern Israeli towns in the Negev Desert, Israel Radio reported.

    Quoting an Israeli police source, the radio said the three rockets were launched from northern Gaza and landed at an open area, causing no harm or injuries.

    The rocket attack came shortly after Israeli army tanks, bulldozers and armored personnel carriers backed by Apache helicopters intruded into the northern area of the Gaza Strip Wednesday morning.

    The Israeli army said the goal of the operation, called "The Front Star Eleven", is to prevent Palestinian militants from launching rockets from Gaza Strip at Israel.

    Hamas intensified firing al-Qassam rockets at Israel on Tuesday and Wednesday after 14 of its members were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City just after midnight Monday. Enditem