US condemns 'terrorist' attacks on Israel

WASHINGTON: The White House on Thursday denounced a string of "terrorist" attacks in southern Israel that left seven Israelis dead and expressed hope those responsible "will be brought to justice swiftly."

"We condemn the brutal terrorist attacks in southern Israel today in the strongest terms," spokesman Jay Carney said in a statement.

"Our deepest condolences go to the victims, their families and loved ones, and we wish those injured a speedy recovery. The US and Israel stand united against terror and we hope that those behind this attack will be brought to justice swiftly," he said.

Israel said militants from Gaza carried out the attacks and warned it would hit back hard, then hit the Hamas-controlled territory with air strikes that that Palestinian medics said killed six people.

Earlier, the Israeli army said two attacks had taken place on route 12, a desert road next to the Egyptian border, near the Red Sea resort town of Eilat.

In the first incident, gunmen strafed a bus. In the second, an improvised explosive device detonated when a military vehicle carrying Israeli troops drove over it.

Security sources told AFP of a third incident on another desert road near the Jordanian border, in which an RPG was fired at a car near Beer Ora, some 15 kilometers (nine miles) north of Eilat.

Medics said all seven victims died in that attack, at least four of whom were travelling in the same car, with reports also suggesting there was mortar fire in the same area.