Sr Islamic Jihad commander killed in Gaza blast

GAZA, March 1: A senior Islamic Jihad commander was killed in a car explosion in Gaza today that witnesses said was caused by an Israeli air strike.

Palestinian security sources and medics identified him as Abu al-Waleed al-Dahdouh, a senior commander of the group's armed wing. The Israeli military had no immediate comment.

Local residents said an unmanned Israeli military aircraft fired at Dahdouh's car and it exploded.

The incident took place hours after militants fired a rocket towards the Israeli coastal town of Ashkelon. Such attacks in the past have drawn an Israeli military response.

Israel has vowed to crack down on Islamic Jihad, which carried out two recent suicide bombings in the Jewish state, and has killed several of its senior commanders in the occupied West Bank.

The group also frequently launches rockets from Gaza into Israel.

REUTERS