Israeli troops end Operation Autumn Clouds in Gaza

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) pulled out of the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun before daybreak Tuesday, ending the six-day-old Operation Autumn Clouds, the army said.

An IDF spokesman confirmed to Xinhua that Israeli infantry, engineering and armored forces completed their operations, which were aimed at eradicating Qassam rockets from the northern Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army said in a statement that troops were redeployed inside the Gaza Strip after withdrawing from Beit Hanoun, the northeast town in Gaza.

"The IDF will continue to act with determination in order to destroy terrorist organizations and terrorist infrastructure and in order to prevent and disrupt the launching of rockets at Israel, " the statement was quoted by the local Ha'aretz newspaper.

A large-scale Israeli operation, dubbed "Autumn Clouds", began on Nov. 1 with dozens of Israeli army tanks, armored vehicles, bulldozers and fighter aircraft entering into Gaza.

Israeli officials declared that the operation is aimed at halting Qassam rocket fire on southern Israel. At least 53 Palestinians and an IDF soldier have been killed during the operation.

Source: Xinhua