Jerusalem, Mar 5 : Senior Islamic jihad commander Khaled Shalan was killed on Wednesday night in an Israeli Air Force missile strike on his car in Gaza.

Another member of the terror group was critically hurt in the attack on the vehicle that was traveling from Jabalya to Beit Lahiya, in northern Gaza.

According to the IDF, Shalan was responsible for the recent rocket fire on Ashkelon, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Hamas officials said the two jumped out of the vehicle when they heard the approaching aircraft, but were hit by the incoming missile. Five others were reportedly wounded in the strike.

Shortly after the attack, the Islamic Jihad vowed that it would retaliate.

"The (attempted) assassination points to the fact that the Zionist entity is not interested in calm," the group said in a statement.

"Therefore, (Israel should) expect our reaction, and more rockets. This crime will not pass without a response," the group warned.

Since the end of Operation Cast Lead in January, Palestinians have continued to fire rockets and mortar shells into Israeli territory, often provoking a military response.

On Tuesday, two waves of air strikes targeted smuggling tunnels along the Gaza-Egypt border, wounding seven people. (ANI)