The IDF exchanged fire with a group of infiltrators attempting to cross the border from Egypt overnight Monday, killing one, according to the IDF spokesman.

It is not clear whether the infiltrators were terrorists; it is possible they were smugglers. The IDF is investigating the incident.

During a routine operation along the Israel-Egypt border, soldiers discovered the group and called on them to stop. When the infiltrators failed to respond, soldiers fired at their legs. The infiltrators returned fire. One suspect was hit in the exchange and died of his injuries.

The remaining infiltrators escaped back to Sinai, leaving the casualty in Israeli territory.

The breach occurred at the same site in which security forces discovered a large explosive device last week, the second seized in the in the area in recent days.

“The Israel-Egypt border has recently turned into an area that is filled with activities of terrorist elements from the Gaza Strip and Sinai,” IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Yoav Mordechai said recently. The army increased its ground patrols to thwart plots aimed at striking Israeli civilian population centers, he said.

“These incidents prove that smuggling routes... are exploited all the time by terrorist groups in order to carry out attacks on Israeli civilians and IDF forces,” the army said. “The alertness of soldiers and their successful acts prevented a terrorist attack.” (© 1995- 2011, The Jerusalem Post 02/28/12)