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ISRAEL

Palestinian boys killed by troops

BEIT HANOUN, Gaza Strip -- Israeli troops fatally shot two Palestinian boys yesterday, pushing ahead with a broad military operation aimed at preventing militants from firing rockets at Israeli towns bordering the Gaza Strip.

Nine-year-old Ehab Shatat was killed by machine-gun fire, apparently from a tank-mounted gun, while standing near his home in Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza. The army said it fired warning shots at a Palestinian mob that approached soldiers in a threatening manner, but it was not aware anyone was hit.

Hours later, troops killed a 16-year-old boy who Palestinian hospital and security officials said apparently was shot by a machine gun. The army said troops fatally shot a teenager who was throwing cement blocks at soldiers.

Troops have isolated Beit Hanoun from the rest of Gaza and razed agricultural land in an attempt to prevent militants from taking cover in orchards when firing rockets at Israel.

AFGHANISTAN

U.S. military probes new abuse claims

KABUL -- The U.S. military is investigating a new claim of abuse in a network of secretive American jails where at least four captives have died, officials said yesterday.