Israel kills two Palestinian militants in Gaza

JERUSALEM, Mar 23 (Reuters) An Israeli air strike killed two Palestinian militants planting bombs near the border between the Jewish state and Gaza today, Israeli and Palestinian officials said.

''Overnight our forces identified three Palestinians planting bombs near the border fence. There was an air strike and the targets were hit,'' an army spokeswoman said.

The Islamic Jihad militant group said two of its members were killed during a ''mission of jihad''. The third militant apparently escaped.

The Israeli military has stepped up use of drones to patrol the border since withdrawing from the Gaza Strip last year.

REUTERS SK RK1128