HAMAS LEADERS FLEE SYRIA

TEL AVIV [MENL] -- Hamas leaders have fled their headquarters in Syria for
neighboring Lebanon as Israel carried out a major strike against the
insurgency group.

Israeli and Arab diplomatic sources said Hamas leaders left Damascus last
week in wake of the double suicide-bombing in the Israeli city of Beersheba
on Aug. 31. Sixteen Israelis were killed in the bombings of commuter buses
in which Hamas claimed responsibility.

"This is apparently correct," Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said. "I
can't go into details. But it's good that they know that our reach is long."

Overnight Tuesday, Israeli combat helicopters fired missiles toward a
suspected Hamas training facility in Gaza City. Palestinian sources said 14
Hamas operatives were killed and another 45 were injured.
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