This article was originally published by Maan News and is republished with permission.

Israeli military vehicles have invaded the eastern Rafah district, in the south of the Gaza Strip, taking over the now-defunct airport, and occupying it as a military base.

Eyewitnesses stated that, late on Friday night, over 15 Israeli tanks completed the operation, under the cover of intensive heavy fire from hovering Israeli helicopters.

Early on Saturday morning, the Islamic Jihad-affiliated Al Quds Brigades announced that their members had shot two Israeli soldiers in the former Gaza International Airport.

The Yasser Arafat Gaza International Airport occupies a strategic position, south east of the volatile Palestinian city of Rafah and adjacent to both the Rafah crossing and the Karem Shalom crossing points between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.