Special to WorldTribune.com

GAZA CITY — Israel has used combat unmanned aerial vehicles in the missile war in the Gaza Strip, a human rights group said.

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights said the Israel Air Force was directing combat UAV operations throughout the Gaza Strip.

The center said the UAVs were firing air-to-ground rockets to force Palestinians to evacuate their homes, later destroyed by fixed-wing aircraft.

“At approximately 01:15, [July 8] an Israel drone fired three missiles
in about 15 minutes at a house belonging to Mahmoud Eid Salama Al Hashash in
Al Hashash area in the northwest of Rafah,” the center said. “The
150-square-meter house, where 13 individuals live, was completely
destroyed.”

The center did not identify the UAV. The center quoted Al Hashash as
saying that the first missile fired by the UAV landed in the yard and
subsequent missiles destroyed the house.

Industry sources said the Israel Air Force has equipped several UAVs for
combat operations. They were said to have included the Hermes-450 UAV by
Elbit Systems as well as the Heron-1 by Israel Aerospace Industries. Israel
has never acknowledged combat UAV missions.

Israeli combat UAV operations were reported around such cities as Beit
Lahiya, Gaza City, Khan Yunis and Rafah. The center said an Israeli UAV
fired a “warning missile” toward a 320-square meter building east of Khan
Yunis and then warned its owner to flee.

“A few minutes later, Israeli fighter-jets bombarded the house,
destroying it completely,” the center said.

An Israeli UAV also fired a warning missile toward the home of Amin Al
Ghalban east of Khanis. The center said several minutes later an Israeli
fighter-jet fired a missile and damaged the home. No casualties were
reported.

“At approximately 2 a.m., an Israeli drone fired three warning missiles
at a 170-square-meter house belonging to Samer Ismail Abu Daqqa, in which
six individuals live, in Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis,” the center
said. “The Israeli military had already called Abu Daqqa’s wife on her
mobile phone ordering the evacuation of the house.”

  Gaza Strip, Hermes-450, Israel said using drones in Gaza to fire warning shots before air strikes, Palestinian Center for Human Rights, Rafah