Special report: Israel launches Gaza assault

    JERUSALEM, July 6 (Xinhua) -- At least one Palestinian was killed and one Israeli soldier injured in a clash between Israeli troops and Palestinian militants in northern Gaza Strip Thursday morning, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told Xinhua.

    Palestinian gunmen fired anti-tank rockets at IDF forces, as the forces entered the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahya, an IDF spokesman said.

    A Palestinian was killed and an IDF soldier lightly injured when the army returned fire at the militants, the spokesman added.

    IDF forces, made up of infantry and armored units, thrust into northern Gaza Strip before dawn Thursday as part of a new operation code-named "Bashan Oaks."

    The Israeli army retook ruins of the former settlements of Dugit, Elei Sinai and Nisanit early Thursday in a bid to create a buffer zone to push back Qassam rockets' launch site to save Israeli cities from rocket attacks. Enditem