GAZA, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Israeli attack helicopters and F16 warplanes carried out several airstrikes on different targets belonging to Fatah movement and the helicopters runway of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.
Palestinian security sources said that F16 warplanes fired at early hours Friday one heavy rocket at the helicopters landing spot of Abbas in western Gaza City, but no injuries were reported.
Eyewitnesses said that a huge explosion wrecked western Gaza City, adding that it was a result of the rocket that the Israeli F16 warplanes fired at the helicopters runway, just couple of hundred meters far from Abbas office and home.
Abbas, who is currently in Gaza, arrived on Thursday night coming from the West bank city of Ramallah, where he is scheduled to meet later on Friday with Prime Minister Ismail Haneya to discuss financial issue and security crisis.
Shortly before the F16 warplane airstrike, Israeli attack Apache helicopters gunship fired two rockets at targets belonging to Fatah movement linked to Abbas, causing severe destruction, and no injuries were reported.
Palestinian security sources and eyewitnesses said that a huge explosion was heard in the area, and ambulances and firefighters were called to the scene. No casualties were reported, but the building was severely destroyed.
Another rocket, according to the security sources, was fired at a cultural club belonging to the movement's armed wing, al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in the densely populated Daraj neighborhood in eastern Gaza City.
They said the rocket has caused no injuries, but left destruction into the targeted building and fear among the population, mainly children.
Israeli artillery had also fired dozens of shells at northern Gaza Strip, where a huge explosion was heard almost every minute in the Gaza Strip all the daylong. No injuries were reported, but the sound of shell explosions terrified the people.
The Israeli military actions were carried out after Palestinian militant groups launched a number of homemade rockets that landed on southern Israel. No injuries were among the Israelis. Enditem |