Gaza Strip ? An Israeli airstrike killed four Palestinian militants early today in the southern Gaza Strip, Palestinian witnesses and officials said.

Moaiya Hassanain, of the Gaza Health Ministry, said nine others were wounded in the strike, including two who were in critical condition.

Hamas officials said the dead included two of its men and two from another militant group who were on a night patrol east of Khan Younis, a town in the southern Gaza Strip.

The army said it carried out the strike after identifying armed men near its border with Gaza.