Special report: Israel launches Gaza assault

    GAZA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- A small number of Israeli forces moved into northern Gaza early on Monday, but the Israeli military said it was a routine mission.

    A number of tanks, armored personnel carriers and bulldozers left Mefalsim, an Israeli village just outside Gaza, and entered the Gaza Strip.

    The goal of the mission was to conduct pin-point operations to locate tunnels and explosive devices near the border fence instead of a massive ground entrance, said the Israeli military.

    The movement came after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ordered an intensified military operation to press the release of an Israeli soldier who was captured by Palestinian gunmen a week ago. Enditem