Israeli Apache attack helicopters fired at least three missiles at a Palestinian house in southern Gaza, Palestinian witnesses said.

The witnesses said the helicopters hovered overhead the southern Gaza town of Khan Yunis and targeted a local Palestinian metal workshop, adding that huge explosions were heard after the missiles hit the building.

They said ambulances and firefighters rushed to the scene to find casualties.

Flames of fire and black smoke were coming out from the destroyed building.

Medical sources said no injuries had been reported.

The Israeli army has been targeting metal workshops and blacksmiths recently, claiming that they were used to manufacture homemade weapons and rockets used by Palestinian militants against Israel.

Earlier Wednesday, Palestinian militants fired a medium-range Qassam rocket at a house in the Negev area in southern Israel, but no injuries were reported.

(Xinhua News Agency July 22, 2004)