Six reported dead in Gaza fighting

JERUSALEM, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- The Israeli military said six Palestinian militants were killed and five others were wounded Wednesday in fighting in the Gaza Strip.

IsraelNN.com quoted an unidentified military spokesman as saying five of the men were killed in gun battles and the sixth death was a result of an airstrike. The spokesman claimed the dead included members of the Palestinian Hamas and Fatah militants as well as Lebanese-based Hezbollah fighters.

The Israeli strikes were in response to two rocket attacks Tuesday night on Sderot, the report said.

The news agency said the latest fighting started when Fatah members took to the streets to mark the 43rd anniversary of the group's first attack on Israel.