GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) -- The Israeli military says four soldiers have been lightly wounded in fighting in northern Gaza.
The military says the soldiers were hurt during a brief incursion to destroy a rocket launching site. It says they have returned to Israeli territory.
It is the first time that Israeli ground troops are known to have entered Gaza in the current offensive. But the operation was carried out by special forces and did not appear to be the beginning of a broad ground offensive.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
Ignoring international appeals for a cease-fire, Israel on Saturday widened its range of Gaza bombing targets to civilian institutions with suspected Hamas ties and announced it would hit northern Gaza "with great force" to prevent rocket attacks from there on Israel. More than 156 Palestinians have been killed in five days of bombardment.
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