KARNI CROSSING, Israel - Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops foiled a major terror attack early Monday morning near the Karni crossing with the Gaza Strip, not far from the Nahal Oz Fuel Depot.

According to Israeli media reports, between 10 and 12 Palestinians, some strapped with suicide belts, led booby-trapped horses from explosive-laden trucks and began planting bombs along the security fence.

When the Palestinians spotted an IDF patrol approaching, they opened fire on the soldiers while other Palestinians fired mortar shells from a distance.

"A very big terror attack was thwarted," one Israeli security official said.

"These terrorists were armed with a huge quantity of explosives. They launched a combined attack, using mortars, and attempted to approach the border fence with booby-trapped horses to harm our soldiers, before firing on our forces," he said.

A small Palestinian terror cell (500 members) calling itself Janud Ansar Allah (Soldiers Loyal to Allah), claimed responsibility for the attack.

Initial reports linked the group to the international al-Qaeda network, with ties to Iran and its Lebanese proxy, Hezbollah.

Israeli security officials said no Gaza-based terrorists are outside the purview of Hamas.

A report published on Tuesday claimed that 500-member terror group is trained by the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigade, the "military" wing of Hamas.

Four terrorists were killed in the firefight. There were no injuries to Israeli troops.

Source: The Jerusalem Post