(Photo: IDF)

The IDF prevented a major terror attack on Monday morning when Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel. They exited a tunnel located 1 km. from Sderot and opened fire at IDF soldiers, who responded forcefully.

Hamas weapons

Tunnel hole and weapons found after most recent infiltration attempts. (Photo: IDF)

Ten Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel early Sunday morning via a terror tunnel, entering between the Erez checkpoint and the community of Nir Am.

The group had split into two contingents.

An IDF observation unit spotted the terrorists and forces were alerted. One contingent was attacked by the air force and eliminated. The other was met by ground forces. All ten terrorists were killed. An anti-tank rocket was fired at the IDF forces during the fighting.

One terror contingent was attacked by the air force and eliminated; the other was met by ground forces. All 10 terrorists were killed. An anti-tank rocket was fired at the IDF forces during the fighting.

All residents in the area were ordered to stay in their homes and roads were shut down.

There are unsubstantiated reports of Israeli casualties as well.

Hamas Made Several Infiltration Attempts

The Hamas has made several infiltration attempts over the past days; the IDF. On Saturday morning, two IDF soldiers were killed when a squad numbering eight or nine terrorists emerged from a tunnel near Ein Hashlosha and engaged an IDF motorized force. By Sunday, the death toll among the IDF had risen to 18 since the launch of the ground invasion on Thursday.

On Thursday, 13 terrorists emerged from a tunnel in the Eshkol region, but were spotted and escaped back into the tunnel. A bomb was dropped on the entrance into the tunnel immediately after they re-entered it, but is not clear whether they were killed.

Author: Aryeh Savir, Tazpit News Agency

Click below for IDF footage of the battle with terrorist infiltrators into southern Israel on Monday morning.