09:13 IL: Terrorists on Monday morning, 28 Sivan 5772 successfully infiltrated into southern Israel near Nitsana and Kadesh Barnea, opening fire at a vehicle involved in maintenance work on the border fence. An explosive device was also detonated as the maintenance vehicle passed. One civilian IDF employee was killed in the attack and another wounded, apparently seriously.

IDF soldiers responding to terrorist gunfire eliminated three terrorists. At this time it remains unclear how many terrorists infiltrated and as a result, residents of area communities are instructed to remain indoors are soldiers continue combing the area in search of terrorists that may still be at large.

Route 12 and the area along the Egyptian border have been shut down at this time as the incident is still ongoing. Area schools are closed as well as the area is not yet secure.

10:10 IL: Terrorists fired an RPG shoulder-held rocket at the vehicle. The vehicle flipped over as a result. The IDF civilian employee was killed in that first assault. IDF troops engaged the terrorists in an exchange of gunfire, killing two of them. Two terrorists are feared still at large in Israel at this time as the manhunt continues. The area of Nitsana and Kadesh Barnea remain on high alert at this time.

12:01: At least one of the terrorists involved in the morning border infiltration and attack was wearing an explosive device. When Golani soldiers fired at the terrorists the bomb was detonated, killing two of them. Officials announced at noon that the alert in the area was being called off as the communities have been declared secure after a comprehensive search for the terrorists.

13:06 IL: The name of the IDF civilian employee is Said Phashpashe, 36, from Haifa. He was married and the father of four. He was a member of the team working on the border fence for seven years.

The Islamic Jihad has boasted responsibility for the attack. Two terrorists eliminated in an IAF targeted strike in Gaza were from Islamic Jihad, IDF sources report.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)