At least 2 killed in Gaza airstrike

GAZA, March 16 (UPI) -- At least two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a Hamas training base in Gaza following a Qassam rocket attack on Israel, the army said.

Israeli fighters bombed a training base near the former Israeli settlement of Netzarim in northern Gaza early Wednesday, Ma'an news agency reported.

There were conflicting reports over the number of casualties with the Palestinian news agency saying two people were killed and a third injured while Israeli media reported three killed.

Haaretz said three Palestinians were killed and four others were injured in the strike, which hit a security compound south of Gaza city. The paper cited Palestinian sources as saying two of those killed were members of the Hamas military wing.

The army confirmed the strike saying it was in response to a rocket fired at the southern Israeli town of Sderot earlier in the day. No injuries or damage were reported in the rocket attack, the army said.

"Israel Defense Forces will continue to act harshly against any attempt to harm Israeli citizens," a statement released by the army said.