Several people died and dozens of others were hurt after gunmen opened fire on two cars in southern Israel near the border with Egypt Thursday. Israel's Haaretz newspaper reported that mortars were also fired from the nearby Egyptian border.
There were unconfirmed reports that seven Israelis and seven gunmen had been killed.
Israeli military spokesman, Brig-Gen. Yoav Mordechai, confirmed there were fatalities as well as wounded. According to him, civilians and troops were among the casualties.
Mordechai reported that a shootout took place between security forces and assailants involved in the first attack, which was on a bus. Rescue services officials said five people were critically wounded in the other attack.
