A shootout in southern Israel alongside the Egyptian border killed two Israeli troopers on Saturday, the military mentioned, in a uncommon occasion of lethal violence alongside the frontier.

The navy mentioned an assailant was in Israeli territory when he opened hearth at troops. The troopers returned hearth, killing the gunman.

The military mentioned one of many killed troopers was a girl. It gave no particulars on the assailant.

Criminals typically smuggle medicine throughout the border, whereas Islamic militant teams are additionally lively in Egypt’s restive north Sinai.

Israel and Egypt signed a peace settlement in 1979 and keep shut safety ties. Fighting alongside their shared border is uncommon.

The alternate of fireside reportedly occurred across the Nitzana border crossing between Israel and Egypt. The crossing is situated about 40 kilometers (25 miles) southeast of the purpose the place Israel’s border with Egypt and the Gaza Strip converge. It’s used to import items from Egypt destined for Israel or the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

Israel constructed a fence alongside the porous border a decade in the past to halt the entry of African migrants and Islamic militants who’re lively in Egypt’s Sinai desert.