Israel 'sorry' for troop deaths

Israel apologised today for the deaths of Egyptian troops killed during a shoot-out between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants.

Defence Minister Ehud Barak said he has ordered a military investigation and a joint inquiry with the Egyptian army to clarify the circumstances of yesterday’s incident, when militants from Gaza crossed into southern Israel through the Egyptian desert and launched a deadly attack that killed eight Israeli.

At least three Egyptian troops were killed in a subsequent shoot-out between Israeli soldiers pursuing the militants along the Israeli-Egypt border.

Egypt today vowed to recall its ambassador from Israel in protest at the deaths.

Barak said that “Israel is sorry over the deaths of the Egyptian officers”.