Israeli attacks kill at least 9 militants

GAZA, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Israeli military strikes in Gaza killed at least nine militants, including the head of Islamic Jihad's armed wing.

Palestinian sources said Mohammad Abu Murshud, who led the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, was killed Thursday when Israeli aircraft fired a missile that struck the vehicle he was traveling in north of al-Mugarka, Ynetnews reported Friday. Two additional Islamic Jihad members were killed in the attack.

Israeli soldiers operating in southern Gaza earlier Thursday killed two Hamas members and two Islamic Jihad militants. Two other Jihad gunmen were killed in an Israeli operation in central Gaza, near the al-Bureij refugee camp.

Palestinian reports said an Israeli fighter jet fired shots at a car containing several gunmen from the Islamic Jihad al-Quds Brigades, but failed to hit the vehicle. The Israeli military confirmed the incident, saying it was a joint operation carried out with intelligence agency Shin Bet.

Meanwhile, Hamas announced an Izz al-Din al-Qassam member was accidentally killed during a training exercise.