Palestinian group Islamic Jihad has said one of its commanders was killed in an Israeli air raid on his home in the besieged Gaza Strip, as armed groups responded by firing rockets toward Israel.
The group's armed wing announced the death of Bahaa Abu al-Atta, 42, in a statement on Tuesday after Israel confirmed it had targeted the commander.
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Separately, the Palestinian group said that Israel also attacked the home of one of its political leaders in the Syrian capital, Damascus.
Gaza air raid
Islamic Jihad said al-Atta's wife was also killed in the blast that ripped through the building in Gaza City's Shejaiya district before dawn. At least two others were wounded, according to medics.
The group said al-Atta was killed while in the midst of "a heroic action", without elaborating, and promised to take revenge.
"Our inevitable retaliation will rock the Zionist entity," it said, referring to Israel.
Hamas, the Palestinian group that administers the Gaza Strip, said that Israel "bears full responsibility for all consequences of this escalation" and promised that al-Atta's death "will not go unpunished".
The Israeli military said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had authorised the operation against al-Atta, blaming him for recent rocket, drone and sniper attacks against Israel, and attempted infiltrations into the country.
"Abu Al-Atta was responsible for most of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad's activity in the Gaza Strip and was a ticking bomb," it said, accusing Al-Atta of planning "imminent terror attacks through various means".
'Dangerous escalation'
Al Jazeera's Harry Fawcett, reporting from West Jerusalem, said the killing of al-Atta marked "an extremely dangerous escalation".
"Israel has not targeted leaders in this way for some time so this strike is seen here as one which brings significant risks."
Shortly after the attack, a salvo of rockets was launched into Israel as air raid sirens sounded across southern and central parts of the country, including the commercial capital Tel Aviv, the Israeli military and witnesses said.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. Israeli police said they closed some roads on the edge of Gaza as a precaution, while crossing points between Israel and Gaza were also closed. Schools and some ministries in Gaza were also shuttered, Fawcett said.
Damascus attack
Separately on Tuesday, Syrian state media said that Israel launched a missile attack targeting the home of an Islamic Jihad official in the Syrian capital, killing one of his sons.
State news agency SANA said at least two people were killed in the attack in Mezzah, a western district of the city, while six others were wounded.
Islamic Jihad said political leader Akram al-Ajouri survived the attack on his home and blamed the "Zionist criminal enemy".
There was no immediate comment from Israel.
A man walks past a damaged building in Mezzah, Damascus, Syria November 12, 2019. [Omar Sanadiki/Reuters]
SOURCE: Al Jazeera and news agencies
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Israeli forces kill top Islamic Jihad commander in Gaza strike - Al Jazeera English
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