Gaza – Ma’an – A Palestinian armed group said it fired four mortar shells at Israeli vehicles who advanced toward the city of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.

“A group of fighters spotted Israeli military vehicles progressing near Kerem Shalom crossing, and fired four mortar shells towards them at 9:30am,” said the statement from the military wing of the Popular Resistance Committees, the An-Nasser Salah Addin Brigades.

The statement also said that Israeli warplanes flew over the area. It said the fighters withdrew unharmed.

An Israeli military spokesperson confirmed later in the day that troops "operating near the fence" heard "severe" explosions in the area, but said he could not confirm whether or not the explosions were mortars.