Palestinians fire rockets at Negev region

SDEROT, Israel, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Palestinian militants say they fired five rockets at Israel's Negev region on Friday, resulting in no casualties or injuries.

Ynetnews said the al-Quds Brigades, the Islamic Jihad's military wing, claimed the rocket attacks that targeted open Negev areas and the area around the Israeli city of Sderot.

The rocket attacks on Israeli territory marked the third straight day of rocket fire in the Middle East, Haaretz reported.

The Israeli newspaper said the rocket assaults were apparently in response to an Israeli military operation in Gaza that left six Palestinian militants dead.

Israeli military officials said the operation was a result of reports that Hamas militants had begun creating a tunnel from Gaza to Israel with the goal of abducting Israeli troops.

The Jerusalem Post said more than 50 rockets have been fired at Israel.

Security officials told the newspaper that all possible defense precautions have been taken in relation to the attacks.