Rocket wounds dozens of Israeli soldiers

ZIKIM, Israel, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Palestinian militants fired a rocket into an Israeli basic training post Monday night, leaving at least 66 soldiers wounded.

The Kassam rocket hit inside the Zikim military base, located about six-tenths of a mile north of the Gaza Strip, The Jerusalem Post reported. At least 30 soldiers were wounded by the explosion or were hit by shrapnel, while the rest suffered shock, the newspaper said. Within hours, 21 of the soldiers had been discharged.

The rocket landed next to a tent in which a group of soldiers were sleeping. Another rocket hit an open area in the western Negev but caused no casualties.

The Nasr Salah al-Din Brigades, the military division of the Palestinian Resistance Committee, took responsibility for the attack. Israeli military officials said the rockets were fired from Beit Hanun.