Militants say fire "Russian" rocket at Israel

GAZA, Apr 21 (Reuters) The Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad said it fired a Russian-made rocket into Israel from the Gaza Strip today, days after it carried out a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv that killed nine people.

Islamic Jihad said the ''Grad'' rocket was fired at the coastal city of Ashkelon. It was the second such rocket it has launched, following a similar attack in late March.

The Israeli army said it had no knowledge of any rockets being fired at Israel today.

Militants generally use makeshift missiles, rather than military grade rockets, for such cross-border barrages. Any increase in their use could trigger a harsh response from the Jewish state, which has already intensified its own artillery barrages at sites in Gaza from where homemade rockets are fired.

When Islamic Jihad's first ''Grad'' was launched, an Israeli military source said it was at least partly factory-produced, and therefore originated abroad. There were no casualties.

Palestinian militants in Gaza have long smuggled in arms from neighbouring Egypt.

Monday's suicide bombing in Tel Aviv was the first in Israel since the militant Islamic group Hamas took power on March 29.

It was also the deadliest since 2004.

Both Islamic Jihad and Hamas are sworn to Israel's destruction.

Israel completed its withdrawal of Jewish settlers and troops from Gaza last September after 38 years of occupation.

REUTERS KD KP2151