Israeli tanks back in Beit Lahiya
(21 Apr 2004) 1. Distant group on street, ambulances just visible 2. Boy looking down on wasteground and tank 3. Bulldozer driving along street 4. Tank moving on open ground (audio gunfire) 5. Street scene, ambulance 6. Group of youths gathered on street 7. Boys pan to open ground 8. Tank (audio gunfire) 9. Helicopter overhead 10. Youths running from firing 11. Damage to tarmac 12. Pan across damaged road 13. Two ambulances 14. Youths running away (audio firing) 15. Boys with stones 16. Boys running, ambulance in road 17. Masked gunman STORYLINE: Israeli forces backed by tanks and bulldozers raided a Gaza Strip town early on Wednesday, killing at least four Palestinians, including two militants, in fighting with gunmen, Palestinian officials said. The invasion came hours after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon pledged to continue targeting militant Palestinian leaders, following the weekend assassination of Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi. On Tuesday, troops killed four Palestinians in fighting in northern Gaza. Early on Wednesday, Israeli troops and tanks moved into Beit Lahiya, the scene of fighting the previous day, and surrounded a housing project. Bulldozers began demolishing a partially built building, witnesses said, while gunmen exchanged fire with troops. Two militants and two unidentified Palestinians were killed. Thirteen others were wounded. Israeli Apache helicopters periodically fired on the area, which is often used by militants as a launching ground for home-made missiles they lob at nearby Jewish settlements. Since Rantisi's assassination on Saturday, militants have launched barrages of rockets and mortar shells at the Israeli communities, wounding at least one person and damaging several structures. The barrage of homemade rockets - 15 over two days - was one of the largest in months. Fighting in the Gaza Strip has spiralled since Sharon announced plans in February to evacuate 21 Jewish settlements in the coastal area. Ahead of the withdrawal, each side is trying to show a victory. The army has increased its targeted killings of militants, while Palestinians have tried to carry out more attacks and on a larger scale. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
