Israel kills Islamic Jihad leader, setting off fierce clash

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel launched airstrikes Tuesday against two senior commanders from the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad, killing one in Gaza but missing another in Syria in a sharp escalation of Israel’s regional conflict with Iran, which backs the militant group. The attack sparked an hours-long exchange of rocket fire from Gaza and further airstrikes, the worst bout of fighting there in recent months.
In eastern Gaza, the Israeli strike killed Bahaa Abu el-A