Israeli airstrikes pound Gaza; 7 killed in tank attack

JERUSALEM (CNN) - Responding to what Israel called an "escalation" in rocket attacks, Israeli warplanes Thursday pounded militant targets in southern Gaza and fired a tank shell into a house, killing five Palestinian militants that entered the home and two civilians, according to Hamas security sources.

Israel Defense Forces said Palestinian militants fired on Israeli troops operating in Khan Yunis, near the Israeli-Gaza border, sparking a gun battle. The militants then ran into a nearby house for cover, which was targeted by an Israeli tank shell.

IDF had no information on casualties, but Hamas security sources confirmed two civilians were killed and said the five militants were members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

Israel also targeted Khan Yunis and Gaza City with at least three airstrikes, according to IDF and Palestinian officials.  One Palestinian militant was killed in an airstrike east of Gaza City, but IDF had no initial information on the casualty.

Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said the military action was in response to a rocket attack on the Israeli city of Askelon.